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Bill Hayton
Bill Hayton
Bill Hayton is an associate fellow with the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House in London. He is the author of "The South China Sea: the struggle for power in Asia" and "The Invention of China". He continues to research the history of the South China Sea disputes.

OpinionA simple solution to the complex South China Sea disputes

The Horsburgh lighthouse on Pedra Branca Island, around 46km off the eastern coast of Singapore, on November 10, 2011. The International Court of Justice’s approach to resolving Singapore and Malaysia’s claims over Pedra Branca could be used to resolve the competing claims in the South China Sea. Photo: EPA

Relying on international law and presenting verifiable evidence to a neutral tribunal can cut through competing claims. Rather than examine claims to entire archipelagos, a court only needs to reach conclusions about physical acts of administration on each feature.

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How a non-existent island became China's southernmost territory

An aerial view of the city of Sansha on an island in the disputed Paracel chain. Photo: AFP
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South China Sea