Preserving a Rules-Based Order in the South China Sea (Andrew S. Erickson, CFR)

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejected critical aspects of Beijing's claims over waters in the South China Sea on Tuesday. The tribunal's findings uphold the need for a rules-based order to counter Chinese efforts to establish a modern-day sphere of influence, says the U.S. Naval War College's Andrew Erickson in a written interview. "It would be best for the [Asia-Pacific] region, and China's standing within it, if Beijing exercises restraint and respects the tribunal's ruling," says Erickson. For its part, the United States should carry out more robust freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) to protect international law and norms, he says.

http://www.cfr.org/international-law/preserving-rules-based-order-south-china-sea/p38127