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  "authors": [
    "Michael D. Swaine"
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Source: Getty

In The Media

The Heat: South China Sea Arbitration Result

CCTV America interviewed Michael Swaine on the arbitration result issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in a case unilaterally brought by the Philippines against China in 2013.

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By Michael D. Swaine
Published on Jul 12, 2016
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The Asia Program in Washington studies disruptive security, governance, and technological risks that threaten peace, growth, and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region, including a focus on China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula.

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Source: CCTV America

Swaine argues that the United States will look at the ruling as a legal judgment that has been made and one that the parties involved should respect and uphold. The United States supports the legal proceedings, but does not regard it as a panecea. For the U.S., the ruling provides a basis in international law of what a lot of these features are and what this means for the various governments invovled. At the same time, both sides have left the door open for bilateral negotiations. Filipino president-elect Duterte has in fact given a greater indication of willingness to talk with China. Swaine argues that it would be wise if Duterte took the Hague's decision as an opportunity to not be more assertive but in making an initiative to try to resume negotiations with the Chinese.  

About the Author

Michael D. Swaine

Former Senior Fellow, Asia Program

Swaine was a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and one of the most prominent American analysts in Chinese security studies.

    Recent Work

  • Other
    What Kind of Global Order Should Washington and Beijing Strive For?

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  • Commentary
    A Smarter U.S. Strategy for China in Four Steps

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Michael D. Swaine
Former Senior Fellow, Asia Program
Michael D. Swaine
SecurityMilitaryForeign PolicyNorth AmericaUnited StatesEast AsiaChinaSoutheast Asia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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