Ten years after the South China Sea ruling: Is China’s position better or worse?
An analysis of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling suggests that while Western diplomatic pressure on China has increased, China's actual control over the region has strengthened. The author argues that the Philippines has failed to achieve its goal of curbing Chinese maritime influence.
Why it matters
The piece provides a critical perspective on the efficacy of international law versus geopolitical power dynamics in the South China Sea.
Ten years after the South China Sea ruling: Is China’s position better or worse? The reality of the South China Sea is increasingly being shaped by Chinese power. This is the outcome that could matter more than 2016’s arbitral ruling and the countries rallying around it, says commentator Deng Yuwen.
The analysis focuses on the failure of international institutions and the dominance of power politics, which aligns with realist geopolitical perspectives.
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