History of South China Sea in Timeline

The South China Sea, a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean, is bordered by South China, the Indochinese Peninsula, Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra, and the Bangka Belitung Islands. It covers approximately 3,500,000 km2. The sea connects to other bodies of water through various straits, including the Taiwan Strait, Luzon Strait, and Karimata Strait. The Gulf of Tonkin is part of the South China Sea.

1941: Japanese Naval Control

In 1941, the majority of the South China Sea came under Japanese naval control during World War II after Japan militarily acquired many surrounding South East Asian territories.

1953: IHO Definition

In 1953, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) defined the limits of the South China Sea in its Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition.

1970: Commercial Fishing Increase

From less than 4 million tonnes in 1970, the commercial fishing in Western Central Pacific increased to 11.7 million tonnes.

1974: Conflict in Paracel Islands

In 1974, a brief conflict over the Paracel Islands resulted in 18 Chinese and 53 Vietnamese deaths, after which China controlled the whole of Paracel Islands.

1982: UNCLOS Framework

The statement by Vietnam at 36th ASEAN Summit in June 2020 said that the 1982 UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.

1986: IHO Recognizes Natuna Sea

In 1986, the International Hydrographic Organization recognized the Natuna Sea in a revised draft edition of Limits of Oceans and Seas, 4th edition, revising the southern limit of the South China Sea.

March 1988: Naval Clash at Chigua Reef

In March 1988, a naval clash occurred just south of Chigua Reef in the Spratly Islands, resulting in over 70 Vietnamese sailors killed.

1999: Taiwan Claims South China Sea Islands

In 1999, Taiwan, under the Lee Teng-hui administration, claimed the entirety of the South China Sea islands, including the subsoil, seabed, and waters of the Paracels and Spratlys.

2004: Change in Japanese Spelling

In 2004, the Japanese Foreign Ministry and other departments switched the spelling of "South China Sea" from 南支那海 to 南シナ海, which became the standard usage in Japan.

2008: ICJ Settles Pedra Branca Dispute

In 2008, the International Court of Justice settled the overlapping claims over Pedra Branca or Pulau Batu Putih, awarding Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore and the Middle Rocks to Malaysia.

July 2010: US Calls for Resolution

In July 2010, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for China to resolve the territorial dispute, which China responded to by demanding the US keep out of the issue.

2010: Commercial Fishing in Western Central Pacific

In 2010, the Western Central Pacific accounted for 14% of the total world catch from commercial fishing.

2010: Commercial Fishing

In 2010, the Western Central Pacific accounted for 14% of the world's commercial fishing.

July 22, 2011: INS Airavat Incident

On July 22, 2011, India's INS Airavat was contacted by a vessel identifying itself as the Chinese Navy, stating that the ship was entering Chinese waters. The Indian Navy clarified there was no confrontation.

September 2011: ONGC and PetroVietnam Deal

In September 2011, India's ONGC Videsh Limited signed a three-year deal with PetroVietnam for oil sector cooperation and accepted Vietnam's offer of exploration in certain blocks in the South China Sea, leading to a protest from China.

2011: Spratly Islands Dispute Escalation

Following an escalation of the Spratly Islands dispute in 2011, various Philippine government agencies started using the name West Philippine Sea.

September 2012: Administrative Order No. 29

In September 2012, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed Administrative Order No. 29, mandating that all government agencies use the name West Philippine Sea to refer to parts of the South China Sea within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

2012: Vietnam and Taiwan Clash

In 2012, Vietnam and Taiwan clashed over anti-Vietnamese military exercises by Taiwan.

2012: Oil and Natural Gas Estimates

In 2012, the United States Energy Information Administration estimated very little oil and natural gas in contested areas of the South China Sea.

2012: Change in Strategy

Vietnamese analysis identifies the change in strategy that generated on going incidents as occurring since 2012.

January 2013: Philippines Initiates Arbitration

In January 2013, the Philippines initiated arbitration proceedings against China over issues surrounding the nine-dash line, characterization of maritime features, and EEZ. China did not participate.

2013: Vietnam and Taiwan Clash over Exercises

In 2013, Vietnam and Taiwan continued to butt heads against each other over anti-Vietnamese military exercises by Taiwan.

2013: Oil and Gas Reserves Location

In 2013, the United States Energy Information Administration estimated that most of the proved or probable 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the South China Sea exist near undisputed shorelines.

May 2014: China Establishes Oil Rig

In May 2014, China established an oil rig near the Paracel Islands, leading to multiple incidents between Vietnamese and Chinese ships.

July 2016: Arbitral Tribunal Ruling

On 12 July 2016, an arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, clarifying it would not rule on sovereignty but concluded China had no legal basis to claim historic rights within the nine-dash line and criticized China's actions in the Spratly Islands.

2016: Maritime Shipping Traffic

In 2016, $3.4 trillion of the world's $16 trillion maritime shipping passed through the South China Sea.

May 2017: Methane Clathrates Mining Breakthrough

In May 2017, China announced a breakthrough for mining methane clathrates, extracting methane from hydrates in the South China Sea.

July 2017: Indonesia Renames Sea

In July 2017, Indonesia renamed the northern reaches of its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea as the North Natuna Sea to assert its sovereignty.

December 2018: Controversial Proposals

In December 2018, retired Chinese admiral Luo Yuan proposed sinking one or two United States Navy aircraft carriers to break US morale, and Dai Xu suggested China's navy should ram United States Navy ships in the South China Sea.

2019: Trade Through South China Sea

Data from 2019 shows that the South China Sea carries trade equivalent to 5% of global GDP.

2019: US and China Work Out Rules of Engagement

In early 2019, during the US Chief of Naval Operations' visit to China, he and his Chinese counterpart worked out rules of engagement for when American and Chinese warships meet on the high seas.

June 2020: 36th ASEAN Summit

On 26 June 2020, the 36th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit was held virtually. Vietnam released a statement that UNCLOS is the basis for maritime entitlements.

November 2023: Government Support for Ruling

As of November 2023, 26 governments support the July 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, 17 issued generally positive statements, and eight rejected it. The United Nations itself does not have a position.