THE South China Sea is one of the busiest highways for international trade. It is not only in our mutual interest that we safeguard the shipping that passes through it but in the common interest of countries, both inside and outside the region.

In January 2017, President Xi Jinping gave an inspired talk at Davos, defending economic globalization and portraying a China “adhering to multilateralism to uphold the authority and efficacy of multilateral institutions.” He went on to say: “We should honor promises and abide by rules. One should not select or bend rules as he sees fit.” His speech at Davos was well received with China being perceived as the new champion of globalization.