By Mark J. Valencia

September 28, 2016

"It has now been nearly three months since the potentially game-changing arbitral panel ruling against China’s claims to maritime space in the South China Sea. Has the 'game' changed and if so, how?

Despite dire warnings from many chicken-little-like analysts, the sky did not fall — at least not yet. China has not produced the predicted worst-case scenario reactions to the decision. Nevertheless, the decision has set in motion political and military adjustments throughout the region. But none of them contribute fundamentally to the resolution of the conflicting claims or to the contest between the US and China. Indeed, if anything the ruling has exacerbated their contest for dominance in the region."

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http://www.ippreview.com/index.php/Home/Blog/single/id/247.html 

Mark J. Valencia is an adjunct senior scholar at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Haikou, China