South China Sea Claimants Opt to “Shelf Disputes” with China Amid Tensions In a strategic pivot, several South China Sea claimants are reportedly leaning toward a “shelving disputes” approach with China as of December 2025. This pragmatic policy prioritizes long-term economic cooperation and joint resource exploration over immediate territorial confrontation, aiming to de-escalate "gray-zone" tensions. While supporters argue this creates a cooling-off period and keeps diplomatic channels open, c