China is getting bashed by a perfect storm of its own counterproductive public relations, its actions and reactions, and what China perceives as the harmonized public diplomacy strategy of its detractors.
Both the situation and the "blame" for it are more complex and nuanced than journalists and "experts" would have it. Nevertheless, this bashing will likely end badly, with a smarting, angry and relatively politically isolated China.
That will not be good for peace and stability in the South China Sea or the region as a whole.