China, the Philippines, and the US: A New Flashpoint Emerges in the South China SeaThe world continues to witness new geopolitical flashpoints, and another potential crisis may now be unfolding in Southeast Asia. Has even the vast expanse of the South China Sea become too small for both sides? The South China Sea serves as a vital shipping route connecting China with international trade lanes that pass Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Following concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Black and Azov Seas, attention has now shifted to the South China Sea. Unlike a narrow strait, the South China Sea offers ample navigable space.