The twenty-first century is witnessing a return of the sea as a central arena of international politics. After decades in which strategic focus was concentrated primarily on the land and aerospace domains, the oceans are once again occupying a prominent position as trade corridors, sources of natural resources, and arenas of power projection. In this context, the South China Sea stands out as a privileged laboratory of the contemporary transformations of the international order. The territorial disputes that run through it stretch back centuries, but acquired a new intensity from the second half of the twentieth century onwards, with the consolidation of the Law of the Sea, the emergence of exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and the international recognition of sovereign rights over vast maritime areas. From that point on, islands, rocks, and reefs — once neglected — became first-order strategic assets, capable of generating extensive maritime spaces and associated resources. The situation deteriorated substantially when, from 2013 onwards, China launched a systematic programme of land reclamation and artificial island construction on disputed reefs in the Spratly and Paracel Islands. These structures were rapidly equipped with airstrips, ports, radar systems, and military installations, transforming them into advanced power projection platforms. This practice raised unprecedented questions regarding the compatibility between offshore coastal engineering and the fundamental principles of UNCLOS. At the same time, traditional dispute resolution mechanisms proved insufficient to contain the escalation of tensions. The arbitration initiated by the Philippines against China, concluded in 2016, constituted a historic milestone by affirming clear limits to the legal validity of claims based on vague historical rights and undefined cartographic lines. Nevertheless, China's refusal to recognise the ruling exposed the weaknesses of the international legal system when confronted with major powers. This book proceeds from the premise that artificial islands are not merely physical objects, but legal and political instruments. By modifying geography, they also alter the conditions for the application of law, redefining strategic balances and creating facts on the ground that are difficult to reverse. The analysis that follows articulates three fundamental levels: The geopolitical level, which examines the strategic interests of the principal actors and the importance of the South China Sea within the contemporary international system; The legal level, which assesses the normative framework governing natural islands, rocks, and artificial structures in light of International Law of the Sea; The prospective level, which projects future scenarios of conflict, cooperation, or normative accommodation. Methodologically, the work draws on the analysis of international treaties, judicial and arbitral decisions, resolutions of international organisations, specialist doctrine, and official state sources. Where relevant, empirical data on trade flows, military capabilities, and environmental impacts are also brought to bear. The book is organised into four parts. Part I establishes the geopolitical and strategic context of the South China Sea. Part II examines the fundamental legal concepts relating to islands and artificial islands, as well as China's concrete construction practices. Part III examines the applicable international legal regime. Finally, Part IV offers a critical analysis of the positions of the States involved and projects future scenarios of resolution or escalation of the conflict. The ultimate aim is to contribute to a rigorous and multidisciplinary understanding of one of the most complex challenges in contemporary International Law: the articulation between sovereignty, power, and legality in a rapidly transforming maritime space.

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mar do sul da china,geopolítica,ilhas,estratégia,poder

• Law - Social Sciences
• Social and Economic Geography - Social Sciences
• History and Archeology - Humanities