The U.S. Department of Defense accused Beijing of implementing a revised maritime law on Sept. 1, calling it “a serious threat” to freedom of navigation. The United States joins several nations pushing back on China’s broad and vaguely defined, territorial claims in the South China Sea. Pentagon spokesperson John Supple said on Sept.1, “The United States remains firm that any coastal state law or regulation must not infringe upon navigation and overflight rights enjoyed by all nations under international law.” Supple added that China’s “unlawful and sweeping maritime claims … pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas.” On the same day, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said at a press briefing that the United States follows the principle of a “universal set of rules for all countries, large and small, to include in the maritime domain.” He expressed his continued opposition to China’s “unlawful, excessive, maritime claims.” One of …