The media portrayal of significant events can often shape public perception in ways that don't fully capture the complexity of those events. In Robert D. Kaplan's "Asia's Cauldron," the author draws a parallel between the coverage of the Indian Ocean tsunami and the international perspective on the South China Sea. This suggests that media framing can obscure the multifaceted realities of geopolitical conflicts and tensions.

Kaplan implies that just as the tsunami was simplified in the media narrative, the situation in the South China Sea could be similarly distorted. Such representations could lead to misunderstandings about the region's dynamics, affecting how nations respond to issues within that territory. This highlights the importance of critical media consumption to gain a more nuanced understanding of global affairs.