Functional Test Offers New Lens on South China Sea Coercion

A legal analysis published in Frontiers in Marine Science argues that coercive encounters in the South China Sea should be classified by what an action actually does, not by the identity of the vessel or the weapons it carries. The article proposes a four-part functional framework focused on the target, the legal basis invoked, the measures used and the systemic effect produced. It says disputes over whether events amount to maritime police action or military force can be managed with area-specific law-enforcement cooperation and a tiered response system, aiming to reduce miscalculation without resolving underlying sovereignty disagreements first. It contrasts UNCLOS enforcement rules with UN Charter Article 2(4), which bans threats or force between states.