China’s new map depicting its claims to the South China Sea has provoked some fierce reactions from its neighbours. The fact is that the “new” map is anything but.
Politics
Politics
Given that the historical evidence of physical acts of administration on the disputed rocks and reefs suggests that, with some important exceptions, the current occupiers of each feature have the best claim to sovereignty over it, Southeast Asian states have an interest in recognising each other’s de facto occupation of specific features and then presenting a united position to China. In tandem, NGOs can play a useful role by forming a "track two tribunal" to collect rival pieces of evidence, test the claimants’ legal arguments, and present the likely outcomes of any future international court hearing.