Rising Land and Rising Sea: Artificial Islands in the South China Sea

The South China Sea is the economic heartbeat of East Asia’s future.Approximately 50% of the world’s shipping flowing through its arteries — double that of the Suez Canal and Panama Canal combined. Its development is central to China’s Maritime Silk Road and is crucial to the economies of the region more generally. But amidst great opportunity lies danger in the form of unresolved territorial disputes.