Trouble Brewing in the South China Sea

You've probably heard about the dispute in the South China Sea. And if you have heard about it, you are probably aware that it involves disputed territorial claims between China and its neighbors, and that in defense of American allies in the region, the US navy is positioning military assets in the area.

In this episode we go a bit deeper into this dispute, its origins, and broader global implications -- of which there are many. On the line to discuss it all is Gregory Poling, a fellow with the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. We kick off discussing a case that the Philippines has brought against China at an international court of arbitration, the result of which is expected very soon.

The dispute between China and its neighbors is a key test of whether a rising China will adhere to major UN treaty, a measure of China's regional ambitions, and a marker for the extent to which the United States is willing to go to bat for its a…