The Looming Crisis in the South China Sea

China is aggressively pursuing its claims throughout the sea, through which over $3 trillion in trade flows each year .

Tensions are especially high between China and the Philippines in the long-running standoff over the Second Thomas Shoal.

The Philippines has maintained its claim to the submerged coral reef within its exclusive economic zone.

The South China Sea dispute has become a test of a rising autocratic power’s ability to impose its will on smaller neighbors.

The perception remains that China is slowly gaining control of the sea, and a new crisis would pose a critical test of U.S. commitments.

The time has come for the United States to send a firmer message about the limits of what Washington and its allies will tolerate.

The U.S. approach seems to assume checking Chinese ambition will be enough to produce stability, says Andrew Hammond .

Hammond: History suggests that any route to eventual reconciliation must also include formalized agreements that create a world in which both sides feel safe.

Hammond says the U.K. needs to test the limits of China ’s openness to talks on key issues, such as the status of the South China Sea .