Russia and China to Conduct Joint Military Exercises in Disputed South China Sea

China and Russia have announced plans to conduct joint military training operations in the South China Sea in September; China claims they will be routine military exercises and are not aimed at sending a message to a third party. But the South China Sea has become an especially charged area in recent weeks after a UN Tribunal at The Hague ruled that China did not have legitimate historic claims over the islands in the Sea as China has previously claimed. Despite this, China has disregarded the ruling, claiming that it was incorrect and that it will disregard its implications.

The Philippines, which brought the case to the international court, has a number of claims in the South China Sea and strongly protested China’s claims to sovereignty over the Parcel and Spralty islands and their surrounding waters. Specifically, the Philippines complained that China interferes with Philippine fishing in international waters, which China considers to be their territory.

A number of countries including Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam have also laid claims in the South China Sea.

The refusal to obey by the international ruling is an example of China’s willful disregard for its signed treaties. It also reflects the ways in which international law only applies to countries that do not have the power to defend their claims.

China’s military exercises will send a clear message to the world: that China is powerful enough to enforce its claims in the South China Sea. Additionally, China’s increased military buildup in the sea along with its construction of artificial islands enforces the idea that China is willing to use force to secure its territory. Russia is sending a similar message: that it is interested in asserting itself and forging an alliance of states willing to flout established norms.

China’s flouting of the Law of the Sea Treaty is a reminder of the importance played by U.S. Naval forces in defending freedom of navigation and customary maritime law. Together, Russia and China are raising the potential cost for the United States to maintain its historical commitment to these principles.