Abstract
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The Annex VII Tribunal in the South China Sea Arbitration placed a high threshold
on States seeking to claim an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around small features.
The implications of such an interpretation are potentially significant for the maritime
jurisdiction of a number of States, particularly in the Pacific. This article considers
the implications of the decision of the Tribunal, and applies it to Kiribati as a case
study. It also considers possible ways States may minimize the risk associated with the
Tribunal’s interpretation.