A verdict delivered by an international court in The Hague sent geopolitical shock waves through many Asian regions.

The panel of judges at the Permanent Court of Arbitration said China’s exclusive claims to a vast swath of territory in the South China Sea had no historical or legal basis. The panel seemed to be siding with the Philippines in a case that Manila had brought to the court in 2013 over China’s expansive moves into a number of disputed islands and shoals over the course of the last few years.

The South China Sea is one of the world’s most strategic bodies of water and remains a vital conduit for a huge proportion of global shipping, especially from China itself. Many companies go to China for their goods at cheap prices and reasonable quality.

Though there have been some concerns regarding quality control, services such as those described on this website https://www.jonble.com/container-loading-inspection/ have assured many foreign companies into entering contracts with China. It is unknown how the ruling might affect China’s ability to ship orders to its international clients, such as delays due to new routes, or further claims and disputes.

The South China Sea is one of the most strategic shipping lanes, but now it’s also now perhaps the most treacherous flash point in the world, with the overlapping claims of half a dozen Asian governments constantly creating regional friction.

Laris Karklis/Washington Post

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