China-Philippine tension in the South China Sea and Trump’s third indictment

The Philippines accused China's coast guard of firing water cannon at a Philippine ship supplying one of its 'outpost' in the South China Sea.  What is the background of this tension?  Is this a tit-for-tat action by China against the current Marcos' administration move away from the China-friendly foreign policy of the Duterte administration?  Former US President Trump was indicted on his role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.  What are the implications of the 'mess' in domestic US politics to the Indo-Pacific region?  How will Indo-Pacific countries react according to what they see happening in the US?