This year’s debates and discussions on the South China Sea（SCS）were focused on July 12—the day the Permanent Court of Arbitration （PCA）announced the much-awaited verdict in the case of the SCS. In the short run，the verdict may undermine China’s international image as a responsible great power；yet in the long run，in light of the limitations on compulsory arbitration settlements，it is unlikely that the case will affect China’s national interests in the SCS. In the future，the Sino-US great-power struggle regarding the maritime order will dominate the agenda. Although ASEAN still cannot reach one voice on this issue，the ASEAN claimants have remained relatively quiet about the verdict. The key to these disputes are changes in the maritime order and the setting of the agenda for the SCS. In response to the situation，it is necessary for China to promote maritime cooperation with ASEAN and to reduce strategic distrust and misunderstandings.