Abstract: The general situation of the South China Sea in 2017 is easing with an obvious increase of regional cooperation. However,under the apparent calmness, there are two important changes: first, the problem of the South China Sea has risen from a partial sovereignty issue to a monolithic issue of maritime rights; second, conflicts in the region still exist and will fundamentally affect the stability in the South China Sea. These changes will increase the challenge for China to maintain its rights in the South China Sea and build a maritime power. Full text available here.