some territorial claims are easy often however history disdains simplicity in this case there is a complex mix of control historical practice international law and treaty in the view of most observers beijings claims are extravagant yet they are not unprecedented the us and china should not risk war over a damn fool thing in the south china sea like the chorus of a drama played out in some ancient athenian amphitheater europes politicians and pundits chant that the greeks deserve their fate they violated the sacred dictum of the gods of finance that countries must not live beyond their means therefore they must be punished this greek tragedy could be europes as well