Do US Actions in the South China Sea Violate

International Law?
 A confidential 2001 U.S. Navy-National Security Agency report revealed by Edward
Snowden shows that China’s concerns regarding America’s intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance (ISR) missions off its coasts are justified.
  The Charter of the United Nations stipulates that “all members shall refrain in their
international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or
political independence of any state…”
o But what is a “threat or use of force”? Is it only physical military force? Some
developing countries maintain that the term “force” includes non-military force
such as economic and cyber coercion and that these threats are prohibited by
international law.