The South China Sea arbitration produced a ground-breaking award for its interpretation of Article 121 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning the legal definition of islands and rocks. This Agora contribution examines the Tribunal's careful analysis of the meaning of this Article and its application to different islands and rocks located in the South China Sea. The policy context for the Tribunal's decision is noted and consideration is accorded to the wider application of the Tribunal's reasoning beyond the South China Sea. Apart from China, the claims of states such as Australia, Japan and the United States may also be affected, although the extent of this impact remains to be seen.