In We Are Funding China’s Growth, Edouard Prisse provides a sharp and critical look at one of the most underappreciated flashpoints in modern geopolitics: the South China Sea. While China’s economic rise captures headlines, its parallel military assertiveness in this region is laying the groundwork for a broader global confrontation—and the United States cannot afford to look away.
A Violation of International Law
The South China Sea, covering over 1.3 million square miles, is one of the most vital maritime zones in the world. It sees a third of global shipping traffic and holds vast oil and gas reserves. Multiple countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, have legal territorial claims under international law.
Yet since 1947, and especially in recent decades, China has claimed nearly the entire area as its own—ignoring the 12-mile territorial standard agreed upon in the 1958 Geneva Convention and reaffirmed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Beijing’s so-called “Nine-Dash Line” is a blatant overreach, dismissing international consensus.
Worse still, China has built artificial islands and militarized them—installing airstrips, missiles, and naval bases, asserting de facto control over international waters.
Why It Matters to the U.S.
Some Americans ask: why should we care? According to Prisse, the answer lies in precedent and power.
If China succeeds in claiming the South China Sea, it will set a precedent for rewriting international rules by force and wealth. This means the erosion of global maritime law, which has benefited the U.S. for decades. It also gives China unchecked control over a trade artery critical to global commerce—and military positioning that can threaten allies like the Philippines, Taiwan, and even Australia.
Moreover, Beijing’s aggression is a test case. If the West does nothing, China will be emboldened to act similarly in the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea, or even areas beyond Asia. As Prisse emphasizes, this is not just a regional dispute—it is a challenge to the international order.
Economic Power Enables Military Aggression
What makes China’s expansion in the South China Sea so effective is that it is funded by the very countries it threatens. Prisse argues that the infrastructure buildup in these contested waters has been financed by trade surpluses with the U.S. and EU. The radar installations, submarine pens, and missile systems are, in a very real sense, paid for by Western consumers purchasing low-cost Chinese goods.
This is why Prisse urges the U.S. to abandon the illusion of free trade with China. The longer the economic imbalance continues, the more we empower Beijing’s military goals—including in the South China Sea.
What the U.S. Must Do
The U.S. must adopt a firm and coordinated strategy. This includes:
- Supporting allies like the Philippines through joint patrols and military cooperation.
- Challenging illegal Chinese claims via diplomatic and legal channels.
- Most importantly, cutting off the economic fuel that powers China’s expansion by shifting from free trade to equal trade policies.
Prisse’s thesis is clear: only by starving China of the financial resources we currently provide can we slow or stop its militarization of disputed territories.
The South China Sea is not just a regional issue—it is a symbol of China’s willingness to defy international norms and use economic might for military ends. The U.S. has a choice: respond decisively now, or face the consequences of a weakened global order tomorrow.
As Prisse warns, “We are incredibly short-sighted.” If we don’t act soon, we may find the South China Sea conflict was only the beginning.