The US is finally taking sides in the South China Sea – against Beijing’s claims

By aligning the US more closely with the tribunal’s finding in 2016, Pompeo effectively states the nine-dash line has ‘no basis in international law’

While the secretary of state was careful not to say whether Washington favoured one claimant over another, the US finally appears to be taking a side – against China

Christian Le Miere

Published: 9:00am, 16 Jul, 2020

Updated: 9:11am, 16 Jul, 2020

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

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Christian Le Miere

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Christian Le Miere is a foreign policy adviser. He is the founder of Arcipel, a strategic consultancy, and has worked as a senior adviser to an Abu Dhabi entity. He was formerly a senior fellow at the IISS, a London-based think tank, and the editor of various publications for Jane's, a global defence intelligence firm.