Issue | Ls Island

This legal reality has turned specks of coral into billion-dollar bargaining chips.

The most volatile example is the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire sea via its "Nine-Dash Line," including strategic features like the Spratly Islands. In response, China has engaged in massive land reclamation, turning low-tide elevations into artificial military bases equipped with airstrips and missile defense systems. ls island issue

So, the next time you see a photo of a lone palm tree on a perfect beach, don't just see a vacation. See a fortress. See a warning. And see a community fighting tooth and nail to keep its head above water—literally and figuratively. This legal reality has turned specks of coral