Prior to the recent court ruling on China's South China Sea claims, US officials spoke of mobilising a coalition to create a united front in the event that Beijing flouted the court's decision. But two weeks after the verdict against China, the court's ruling is in danger of becoming irrelevant. Only six countries have supported Washington's calls for the ruling to be binding and now Washington appears unkeen to press the issue further. We don’t want to hold China to these standards.’” The United States has been reluctant to use its veto power at the UN Security Council because it fears other nations will follow suit.
Prior to the recent court ruling on China's South China Sea claims, US officials spoke of mobilising a coalition to create a united front in the event that Beijing flouted the court's decision. But two weeks after the verdict against China, the court's ruling is in danger of becoming irrelevant. Only six countries have supported Washington's calls for the ruling to be binding and now Washington appears unkeen to press the issue further. The United States has been reluctant to use its veto power at the UN Security Council because it fears other nations will follow suit.