Part 3/9:
Six countries lay claim to portions of the South China Sea, with each maintaining rights to exclusive economic zones extending 200 nautical miles from their respective shores. China, however, claims expansive rights over these waters, defined by an ambiguous "nine-dash line"—a depiction first drawn over 70 years ago that lacks international legal recognition. In a significant setback for Beijing, a 2016 ruling declared this claim void under international law, yet China has continued its efforts to assert dominance, building artificial islands and militarizing the area.