The Chinese Communist Party represents by far the most serious threat of all global threats to security and prosperity. Under Xi Jinping, China seeks to replace a U.S.-led democratic international order built around the rule of law with a feudal mercantilist order led by China — an order in which the peace, trade, politics, and other concerns of nations are dependent upon obedience to Beijing.

It’s critical, then, that the United States resist Chinese efforts to advance this agenda. Unfortunately, the U.S. is manifestly failing to do so in the South China Sea.