Beijing has been urged to strengthen its team of specialists in maritime law as the Philippines threatens a further challenge over the long-running dispute in the South China Sea.
Wu Shicun, founder of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and chairman of the Huayang Centre for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, said the coming year is a critical window of opportunity for Beijing.
Manila is threatening to launch new arbitration proceedings, while the re-election of Donald Trump as US president adds further uncertainty to the dynamics in the South China Sea, Wu said.
