Silence in international law is rarely accidental. From Taiwan to cyber warfare, states increasingly rely on legal ambiguity to preserve power, deter adversaries, and avoid accountability. This article examines how strategic silence operates within international law—and what it means for the global legal order.

China’s indication that it may pursue international arbitration if its Venezuelan contracts are disrupted highlights the growing role of lawfare in modern international relations. This article examines arbitration jurisdiction, treaty protections, sovereign immunity, enforcement mechanisms, and successor government liability through a legal lens.