The law of the sea is a body of customs, treaties, and international agreements by which governments maintain order, productivity, and peaceful relations on the sea. This determines where U.S. territorial waters begin for purposes of international law. But the South China Sea is one of the most important economic and environmental regions in the world. More than half of the world's fishing vessels are in the South China Sea, and millions of people depend on these waters for their food and livelihoods. But they are both just water.
