Convention offers diplomatic mechanism to resolve maritime disputes with China

Finally, the Convention also offers the United States a diplomatic and political solution should a dispute with China arise.¹⁶⁷ Although the United States traditionally resists dispute resolution mechanisms, it would be in its interest to embrace them here. As a non-party to the Convention, a potential dispute between China and the United States could escalate into an explosive situation. By ratifying the Convention, the U.S. will have the support of the international community to exert pressure on China—either for peaceful dispute resolution or to adhere to the provisions of the Convention that it too has ratified.¹⁶⁸