Editing South China Sea

{{Short description|Marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}

{{Infobox body of water
| name               = South China Sea
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| other_name         = <!--    Images     -->
| image              = Mar de China Meridional - BM WMS 2004.jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Satellite image of South China Sea and to left the Gulf of Thailand 
| image_bathymetry   = South China Sea.jpg
| alt_bathymetry     = 
| caption_bathymetry = The northeastern portion of South China Sea
<!--    Stats      -->| location           = [[East Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]]
| group              = 
| coordinates        = {{Coord|12|N|113|E|type:waterbody_scale:10000000|display=inline,title}}
| type               = [[Sea]]
| etymology          = 
| part_of            = [[Pacific Ocean]]
| inflow             = 
| rivers             = {{hlist|[[Agno River|Agno]]|[[Jiulong River|Jiulong]]|[[Kapuas River|Kapuas]]|[[Mekong]]|[[Min River (Fujian)|Min]]|[[Pahang River|Pahang]]|[[Pampanga River|Pampanga]]|[[Pasig River|Pasig]]|[[Pearl River (China)|Pearl]]|[[Rajang River|Rajang]]|[[Red River (Vietnam)|Red]]|[[Sambas River|Sambas]]}}
| outflow            = 
| oceans             = 
| catchment          = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| basin_countries    = {{collapsible list|[[Brunei]]<br />[[China]]<br />[[Indonesia]]<br />[[Malaysia]]<br />[[Philippines]]<br />[[Taiwan]]<br />[[Vietnam]]}}
| agency             = 
| designation        = 
| length             = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| width              = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| area               = {{convert|3500000|km2}}
| depth              = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| max-depth          = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| volume             = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| salinity           = 
| shore              = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| elevation          = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| temperature_high   = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| temperature_low    = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| islands            = [[List of islands in the South China Sea|List of islands in South&nbsp;China Sea]] <!-- {{hlist|[[Borneo]]|[[Hainan Island|Hainan]]|[[Luzon]]|[[Palawan Island|Palawan]]|[[Taiwan Island|Taiwan]]}} -->
| islands_category   = Islands of the South China Sea
| sections           = 
| trenches           = [[Manila Trench]]
| benches            = 
| cities             = {{collapsible list|title=Major cities|bullets=true|<!-- add major cities -->[[Alaminos, Pangasinan|Alaminos]]|[[Bà Rịa]]|[[Bạc Liêu (city)|Bạc Liêu]]|[[Bacoor]]|[[Balanga, Bataan|Balanga]]|[[Batam]]|[[Bintulu]]|[[Cẩm Phả]]|[[Cam Ranh]]|[[Candon]]|[[Cavite City]]|[[Da Nang]]|[[Dagupan]]|[[Đồng Hới]]|[[Hạ Long]]|[[Hà Tĩnh]]|[[Haikou]]|[[Haiphong]]|[[Ho Chi Minh City]]|[[Hội An]]|[[Hong Kong]]|[[Kaohsiung]]|[[Kota Kinabalu]]|[[Kuala Terengganu]]|[[Kuantan]]|[[Kuching]]|[[Laoag]]|[[Las Piñas]]|[[Macau]]|[[Malolos]]|[[Manila]]|[[Mersing]]|[[Miri, Malaysia|Miri]]|[[Móng Cái]]|[[Nakhon Si Thammarat]]|[[Nam Định]]|[[Nanwan]]|[[Navotas]]|[[Nha Trang]]|[[Olongapo]]|[[Parañaque]]|[[Pasay]]|[[Pattaya]]|[[Pekan, Pahang|Pekan]]|[[Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm]]|[[Phan Thiết]]|[[Quảng Ngãi]]|[[Qui Nhơn]]|[[Sầm Sơn]]|[[San Fernando, La Union|San Fernando]]|[[Sanya]]|[[Shantou]]|[[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]]|[[Sóc Trăng]]|[[Surat Thani]]|[[Tainan]]|[[Taitung City|Taitung]]|[[Tam Kỳ]]|[[Tanjungpinang]]|[[Thái Bình]]|[[Thanh Hóa]]|[[Tuy Hòa]]|[[Vigan]]|[[Vũng Tàu]]|[[Xiamen]]|[[Zhanjiang]]}}
<!--      Map      -->| pushpin_map        = South China Sea#Southeast Asia#Asia
| pushpin_relief     = y
| pushpin_label      = South China&nbsp;Sea
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = <!--   Below       -->
| website            = 
| reference          = 
}}

The '''South China Sea''' is a marginal [[sea]] of the Western [[Pacific Ocean]]. It is bounded in the north by [[South China]], in the west by the [[Indochinese Peninsula]], in the east by the islands of [[Taiwan island|Taiwan]] and northwestern [[Philippines]] (mainly [[Luzon]], [[Mindoro]] and [[Palawan Island|Palawan]]), and in the south by [[Borneo]], eastern [[Sumatra]] and the [[Bangka Belitung Islands]], encompassing an area of around {{convert|3500000|km2|abbr=on}}.  It communicates with the [[East China Sea]] via the [[Taiwan Strait]], the [[Philippine Sea]] via the [[Luzon Strait]], the [[Sulu Sea]] via the straits around [[Palawan]], the [[Java Sea]] via the [[Karimata Strait|Karimata]] and [[Bangka Strait]]s and directly with [[Gulf of Thailand]]. The [[Gulf of Tonkin]] is part of the South China Sea. 

$3.4 trillion of the world's $16 trillion [[Maritime transport|maritime shipping]] passed through South China Sea in 2016. Oil and natural gas reserves have been found in the area. The Western Central Pacific accounted for 14% of world's commercial fishing in 2010.

The [[South China Sea Islands]], collectively comprising several [[archipelago]] clusters of mostly small uninhabited islands, islets ([[cay]]s and [[shoal]]s), [[reef]]s/[[atoll]]s and [[seamount]]s numbering in the hundreds, are subject to [[territorial disputes in the South China Sea|competing claims of sovereignty]] by several countries. These claims are also reflected in the variety of names used for the islands and the sea.

==Etymology==
{{Infobox Chinese
| pic = 
| piccap = 
| showflag = p
| poj = lâm-hái
| hain = nâm-hái
| wuu = noe<sup>平</sup> he<sup>上</sup>
| j = naam<sup>4</sup> hoi<sup>2</sup>
| h = nam<sup>11</sup> hoi<sup>31</sup>
| bpmf = ㄋㄢˊ ㄏㄞˇ
| t = 
| s = 
| w = Nan<sup>2</sup> Hai<sup>3</sup>
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|n|an|2|-|h|ai|3}}
| p = Nán Hǎi
| c = 南海
| l = South Sea
| t2 = 南中國海
| s2 = 南中国海
| p2 = Nán Zhōngguó Hǎi
| w2 = Nan<sup>2</sup> Chung<sup>1</sup>-kuo<sup>2</sup> Hai<sup>3</sup>
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|n|an|2|-|zh|ong|1|g|uo|2|-|h|ai|3}}
| l2 = South China Sea
| j2 = naam<sup>4</sup> zung<sup>1</sup> gwok<sup>3</sup> hoi<sup>2</sup>
| h2 = nam<sup>11</sup> dung<sup>24</sup> gued<sup>2</sup> hoi<sup>31</sup>
| wuu2 = noe<sup>平</sup> tson<sup>平</sup> koh<sup>入</sup> he<sup>上</sup>
| bpmf2 = ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄏㄞˇ
| poj2 = lâm tiong-kok hái
| hain2 = nâm tieng-kuōk hái
| tgl = Dagat Timog Tsina <br /><small>(Mar de China Meridional)</small><br />Dagat Luzón<br /><small>(Mar de Luzón)</small><br />Mar Occidental de Filipinas<br /><small>(Mar de Filipinas Occidental;Pilipinos uso oficial del gobierno; ZEE reclamada por Filipinas solamente)</small><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://es.hispanopedia.com/wiki/Mar_de_Filipinas_Occidental|title=Comentario Pinoy sobre pretensión CHina en su mar Territorial Tagalo|first=BBC|last=Filipinas|website=La Nuestra Ñpedic@}}</ref>
| por = Mar da China Meridional<br /><small>(South China Sea)</small>
| msa = {{lang|ms|Laut Cina Selatan}} ({{lang|ms-arab|{{Script|Arab|لا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}وت چينا سلاتن}}}}) <br /><small>(South China Sea)</small><br />{{lang|ms|Laut Nusantara}} ({{lang|ms-arab|{{Script|Arab|لا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}وت نوسنتارا}}}})<br /><small>(Nusantara Sea)</small><br />{{lang|ms|Laut Campa}} ({{lang|ms|{{Script|Arab|لا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}وت چمڤا}}}})<br /><small>(Champa Sea)</small><br />{{lang|ms|Laut Borneo Utara}} ({{lang|ms|{{Script|Arab|لا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}وت بورنيو اوتارا}}}})<br /><small>(North Borneo Sea)</small>
| vie = Biển Đông
| lqn = East Sea
| kanji = 南支那海 {{lang|en|or|italic=no}} 南シナ海 <small>{{lang|en|(literally "South [[Shina (word)|Shina]] Sea")|italic=no}}</small>
| kana = みなみシナかい
| romaji = Minami Shina Kai
| khm = សមុទ្រចិនខាងត្បូង<br />{{IPA|km|samut cən kʰaːŋ tʰɓoːŋ|}}<br />{{small|('South China Sea')}}
| ind = Laut Cina Selatan / <br />Laut [[Names of China#Zhongguo|Tiongkok]] Selatan<br /><small>(South China Sea)</small><br />Laut Natuna Utara<br /><small>(North Natuna Sea; [[Indonesia|Indonesian]] official government use; Claimed Indonesian EEZ only)</small><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.detik.com/bbc-world/d-3561255/china-komentari-penamaan-laut-natuna-utara-oleh-indonesia|title=China Komentari Penamaan Laut Natuna Utara oleh Indonesia|first=B. B. C.|last=Indonesia|website=detiknews}}</ref>
| tha = ทะเลจีนใต้ <br />{{IPA|th|tʰā.lēː t͡ɕīːn tâ(ː)j|}}<br /><small>(South China Sea)</small>
| rtgs = Thale Chin Tai
| order = st
| ci = 
| altname = 
| hn = 𣷷東
| tet = Tasi Sul Xina
}}

''South China Sea'' is the dominant term used in English for the sea, and the name in most European languages is equivalent. This name is a result of early European interest in the sea as a route from Europe and South Asia to the trading opportunities of China. In the 16th century, Portuguese sailors called it the China Sea ({{lang|pt|Mare da China}}); later needs to differentiate it from nearby bodies of water led to calling it South China Sea.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tønnesson |first=Stein |date=2005 |chapter=Locating the South China Sea |editor-last1=Kratoska |editor-first1=Paul H. |editor-last2=Raben |editor-first2=Remco |editor-last3=Nordholt |editor-first3=Henk Schulte |title=Locating Southeast Asia: Geographies of Knowledge and Politics of Space |publisher=Singapore University Press |page=204 |isbn=9971-69-288-0 |quote=The European name 'South China Sea' ... is a relic of the time when European seafarers and mapmakers saw this sea mainly as an access route to China ... European ships came, in the early 16th century, from Hindustan (India) ... The Portuguese captains saw the sea as the approach to this land of China and called it ''Mare da China''. Then, presumably, when they later needed to distinguish between several China seas, they differentiated between the 'South China Sea', ...}}</ref> The [[International Hydrographic Organization]] refers to the sea as "South China Sea (Nan Hai)".<ref name="IHO">{{cite web |url=https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/standards/s-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |title=Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition |year=1953 |publisher=[[International Hydrographic Organization]] |access-date=28 December 2020 |at=§&nbsp;49 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008191433/http://www.iho.int/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>

The ''[[Yizhoushu]]'', which was a chronicle of the [[Western Zhou]] dynasty (1046–771 BCE), gives the first Chinese name for South China Sea as ''Nanfang Hai'' ({{zh|c=南方海|p=Nánfāng Hǎi|l=Southern Sea|links=no}}), claiming that barbarians from that sea gave tributes of [[hawksbill sea turtle]]s to the Zhou rulers.<ref name="Shen">{{cite journal|title=China's Sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands: A Historical Perspective|first=Jianming|last=Shen|journal=Chinese Journal of International Law|year=2002|volume=1|issue=1|pages=94–157|doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.cjilaw.a000432|doi-access=free}}</ref> The ''[[Classic of Poetry]]'', ''[[Zuo Zhuan]]'', and ''[[Guoyu (book)|Guoyu]]'' classics of the [[Spring and Autumn period]] (771–476 BCE) also referred to the sea, but by the name ''Nan Hai'' ({{zh|c=南海|p=Nán Hǎi|l=South Sea|links=no}}) in reference to the [[Chu (state)|State of Chu's]] expeditions there.<ref name="Shen"/> Nan Hai, the South Sea, was one of the [[Four Seas]] of Chinese literature. There are three other seas, one for each of the four cardinal directions.<ref>{{cite book|first=Chun-shu|last=Chang|title=The Rise of the Chinese Empire: Nation, State, and Imperialism in Early China, ca. 1600 B.C. &ndash; A.D. 8|url=https://archive.org/details/risechineseempir08chan|url-access=limited|year=2007|publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=978-0-472-11533-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/risechineseempir08chan/page/n302 263]–264}}</ref> During the [[Han dynasty#Eastern Han|Eastern Han dynasty]] (23–220 CE), China's rulers called the sea ''Zhang Hai'' ({{zh|c=漲海|p=Zhǎng Hǎi|l=distended sea}}).<ref name="Shen"/> ''Fei Hai'' ({{zh|c=沸海|p=Fèi Hǎi|l=boiling sea}}) became popular during the [[Northern and Southern dynasties|Southern and Northern dynasties]]. Usage of the current Chinese name, ''Nan Hai'' (South Sea), gradually became widespread during the [[Qing dynasty]].<ref>華林甫 (Hua Linfu), 2006. 插圖本中國地名史話 (An illustrated history of Chinese place names). 齊鲁書社 (Qilu Publishing), page 197. {{ISBN|7533315464}}</ref>

In Southeast Asia it was once called the '''Champa Sea''' or ''Sea of Cham'', after the maritime kingdom of [[Champa]] (nowadays [[Central Vietnam]]), which flourished there before the 16th century.<ref name="NG-The Cham">{{cite web |last=Bray |first=Adam |date=June 18, 2014 |title=The Cham: Descendants of Ancient Rulers of South China Sea Watch Maritime Dispute From Sidelines – The ancestors of Vietnam's Cham people built one of the great empires of Southeast Asia |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140616-south-china-sea-vietnam-china-cambodia-champa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620153051/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140616-south-china-sea-vietnam-china-cambodia-champa/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 20, 2014 |work=[[National Geographic]]}}</ref> The majority of the sea came under Japanese naval control during World War II following the military acquisition of many surrounding South East Asian territories in 1941.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Japan calls the sea {{lang|ja-Latn|Minami [[Shina (word)|Shina]] Kai}} "South China Sea". This was written {{lang|ja|南支那海}} until 2004, when the Japanese Foreign Ministry and other departments switched the spelling to {{lang|ja|南シナ海}}, which has become the standard usage in Japan.{{cn|date=September 2024}} 

In China, it is called the ''South Sea'', ({{zh|s=南海|p=Nánhǎi|labels=no}}), and in [[Vietnam]] the ''East Sea'', {{lang|vi|Biển Đông}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chinhphu.vn/portal/page?_pageid=439,1090459&_dad=portal&_schema=portal&pers_id=1091147&item_id=5147503&p_details=1 | title=VN and China pledge to maintain peace and stability in East Sea |publisher= Socialist Republic of Vietnam Government Web Portal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/news/story.php?d=20010311025315 | title= FM Spokesperson on FIR control over East Sea | publisher= Embassy of Vietnam in USA|date= March 11, 2001 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://gis.chinhphu.vn/ShowmapGov.asp?pLayer=vn_hcc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006230745/http://gis.chinhphu.vn/Applet.asp?pLayer=vn_hcc |archive-date=2006-10-06 | title=The Map of Vietnam |publisher= Socialist Republic of Vietnam Government Web Portal}}</ref> In [[Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]] and the [[Philippines]], it was long called the ''South China Sea'' ({{langx|tl|Dagat Timog Tsina}}, {{langx|ms|Laut China Selatan}}), with the part within Philippine territorial waters often called the "Luzon Sea", {{lang|tl|Dagat Luzon}}, by the Philippines.<ref>{{cite book|author1=John Zumerchik|author2=Steven Laurence Danver|author-link=Steven L. Danver|title=Seas and Waterways of the World: An Encyclopedia of History, Uses, and Issues|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IBKoUXrF5p0C|year=2010|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-711-1|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=IBKoUXrF5p0C&pg=PR259 259]}}</ref>

However, following an escalation of the [[Spratly Islands dispute]] in 2011, various Philippine government agencies started using the name [[West Philippine Sea]]. A [[PAGASA|Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)]] spokesperson said that the sea to the east of the Philippines will continue to be called the [[Philippine Sea]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20110613-283772.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112101354/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20110613-283772.html|archive-date=January 12, 2012|title=South China Sea renamed in the Philippines|first=Tarra|last=Quismundo|date=2011-06-13|access-date=2011-06-14|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]}}</ref> 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 the parts of South China Sea within the [[Exclusive economic zone of the Philippines|Philippines exclusive economic zone]], including the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around, within and adjacent to the [[Kalayaan Island Group]] and [[Bajo de Masinloc]], and tasked the [[National Mapping and Resource Information Authority]] to use the name in official maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/09/05/administrative-order-no-29-s-2012/|title=Administrative Order No. 29, s. 2012|date=September 5, 2012|work=Official Gazette|publisher=Government of the Philippines|access-date=May 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518200249/http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/09/05/administrative-order-no-29-s-2012/|archive-date=May 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>[http://ph.news.yahoo.com/west-philippine-sea-limited-exclusive-economic-zone-120023464.html West Philippine Sea Limited To Exclusive Economic Zone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307100754/https://ph.news.yahoo.com/west-philippine-sea-limited-exclusive-economic-zone-120023464.html |date=2021-03-07 }}, September 14, 2012, ''International Business Times''</ref>

In July 2017, to assert its sovereignty, Indonesia renamed the northern reaches of [[exclusive economic zone of Indonesia|its exclusive economic zone]] in the South China Sea as the ''North Natuna Sea'', which is located north of the Indonesian [[Natuna Regency|Natuna Islands]], bordering southern [[Exclusive economic zone of Vietnam|Vietnam exclusive economic zone]], corresponding to southern end of South China Sea.<ref>{{cite web |author=Prashanth Parameswaran |date=17 July 2017 |title=Why Did Indonesia Just Rename Its Part of the South China Sea? |url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/07/why-did-indonesia-just-rename-its-part-of-the-south-china-sea/ |work=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]}}</ref> The [[Natuna Sea]] is located south of Natuna Island within Indonesian territorial waters.<ref>{{cite news | title = Asserting sovereignty, Indonesia renames part of South China Sea | author1= Tom Allard | author2= Bernadette Christina Munthe| work = Reuters | date = 14 July 2017 | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-politics-map-idUSKBN19Z0YQ}}</ref> Therefore, Indonesia has named two seas that are portions of South China Sea; the Natuna Sea located between Natuna Islands and the [[Lingga Regency|Lingga]] and [[Tambelan Archipelago]]s, and the North Natuna Sea located between the Natuna Islands and [[Cape Cà Mau]] on the southern tip of the [[Mekong Delta]] in Vietnam. There has been no agreement between China and Indonesia on what has been called the Natuna waters dispute, with China being ambiguous as to the southern limit of its area of interest.<ref>{{cite journal|journal =Indonesian Journal of International Law|volume =20|issue =4|pages=531–562|year =2023|title =Natuna Waters: Explaining a Flashpoint between Indonesia and China|first =Damos Dumoli|last =Agusman|doi =10.17304/ijil.vol20.4.1|doi-broken-date =1 November 2024|doi-access=free|url =https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1710&context=ijil|issn =2356-5527}}{{rp|p=555}}</ref>

==Hydrography==
States and territories with borders on the sea (clockwise from north) include: the [[People's Republic of China]], the [[Republic of China (Taiwan)]], the [[Philippines]], [[Malaysia]], [[Brunei]], [[Indonesia]] and [[Vietnam]]. Major rivers that flow into South China Sea include the [[Pearl River (China)|Pearl]], [[Min River (Fujian)|Min]], [[Jiulong River|Jiulong]], [[Red River (Vietnam)|Red]], [[Mekong]], [[Chao Phraya River|Menam]], [[Rajang River|Rajang]], [[Baram River|Baram]], [[Kapuas River|Kapuas]], [[Batang Hari River|Batang Hari]], [[Musi River (Indonesia)|Musi]], [[Kampar River|Kampar]], [[Indragiri River|Indragiri]], [[Pahang River|Pahang]], [[Agno River|Agno]], [[Pampanga River|Pampanga]] and [[Pasig River|Pasig]] Rivers.

The IHO in its ''Limits of Oceans and Seas'', 3rd edition (1953), defines the limits of South China Sea as follows:<ref name="IHO" />
<blockquote>
''On the South.'' The Eastern and Southern limits of [[Singapore Strait|Singapore]] and [[Malacca Strait]]s [A line joining Tanjong Datok, the Southeast point of [[Johor]]e ({{Coord|1|22|N|104|17|E|display=inline}}) through Horsburgh Reef to Pulo Koko, the Northeastern extreme of [[Bintan Island]] ({{Coord|1|13.5|N|104|35|E|display=inline}}). The Northeastern coast of [[Sumatra]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> as far West as Tanjong Kedabu ({{Coord|1|06|N|102|58|E|display=inline}}) down the East coast of [[Sumatra]] to Lucipara Point ({{Coord|3|14|S|106|05|E|display=inline}}) thence to Tanjong Nanka, the Southwest extremity of [[Bangka Island|Banka Island]] (where it transitions as [[Java Sea]]), through this island to Tanjong Berikat the Eastern point ({{Coord|2|34|S|106|51|E|display=inline}}), on to Tanjong Djemang ({{Coord|2|36|S|107|37|E|display=inline}}) in [[Belitung|Billiton]], along the North coast of this island to Tanjong Boeroeng Mandi ({{Coord|2|46|S|108|16|E|display=inline}}) and thence a line to Tanjong Sambar ({{Coord|3|00|S|110|19|E|display=inline}}) the Southwest extreme of [[Borneo]].
<p>''On the East.'' From Tanjong Sambar through the West coast of Borneo to Tanjong Sampanmangio, the North point, thence a line to West points of [[Balabac Island|Balabac]] and Secam Reefs, on to the West point of Bancalan Island and to Cape Buliluyan, the Southwest point of [[Palawan]], through this island to Cabuli Point, the Northern point thereof, thence to the Northwest point of [[Busuanga Island|Busuanga]] and to Cape Calavite in the island of Mindoro, to the Northwest point of [[Lubang Island]] and to Point Fuego (14°08'N) in [[Luzon|Luzon Island]], through this island to [[Cape Engaño (Luzon)|Cape Engano]], the Northeast point of Luzon, along a line joining this cape with the East point of Balintang Island (20°N) and to the East point of [[Mavudis|Y'Ami Island]] (21°05'N) thence to Garan Bi, the Southern point of [[Taiwan (island)|Taiwan]] (Formosa), through this island to Santyo (25°N) its North Eastern Point.</p>
<p>''On the North.'' From [[Fuki Kaku]] the North point of [[Formosa]] to [[Kiushan Tao|Kiushan Tao (Turnabout Island)]] on to the South point of [[Pingtan Island|Haitan Tao]] (25°25'N) and thence Westward on the parallel of 25°24' North to the coast of [[Fujian|Fukien]].</p>
<p>''On the West.'' The Mainland, the Southern limit of the [[Gulf of Thailand]] and the East coast of the [[Malay Peninsula]].</p>
</blockquote>

However, in a revised draft edition of ''Limits of Oceans and Seas'', 4th edition (1986), the International Hydrographic Organization recognized the Natuna Sea. Thus the southern limit of South China Sea would be revised from the Bangka Belitung Islands to the [[Natuna Islands]].<ref name="IHO-1986">{{cite web | title = Limits of Ocean and Seas Special Publication 23 Draft 4th Edition|year =1986| work = [[International Hydrographic Organization]] | url = https://www.iho.int/mtg_docs/com_wg/S-23WG/S-23WG_Misc/Draft_1986/S-23_Draft_1986_Headings.pdf | pages = 108–109 | access-date = 2017-07-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180430200117/https://www.iho.int/mtg_docs/com_wg/S-23WG/S-23WG_Misc/Draft_1986/S-23_Draft_1986_Headings.pdf | archive-date = 2018-04-30  }}</ref><!--note to other editors - that apparently only Japan and Korea are the cause for the non-ratification may not make the new naming official even if all members of IHO appear to agree----> 
==Geology==
{{See also|Tectonics of the South China Sea}}
[[File:Mui Ne4.jpg|thumb|Sunset on the South China Sea off [[Mũi Né]] village on the south-east coast of [[Vietnam]]]]
The sea lies above a drowned [[continental shelf]]; during [[Quaternary glaciation|recent ice ages]] global sea level was hundreds of metres lower, and [[Borneo]] was part of the Asian mainland.

The South China Sea opened around [[Eocene|45 million years ago]] when the "[[Dangerous Ground (South China Sea)|Dangerous Ground]]" rifted away from southern China. Extension culminated in [[seafloor spreading]] around 30 million years ago, a process that propagated to the southwest resulting in the V-shaped basin we see today. Extension ceased around 17 million years ago.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://idm.gov.vn/Nguon_luc/Xuat_ban/Anpham/Tracuu_PVDC/B3.htm#BienDong|title=Lexicon of Geological Units of Viet Nam|publisher=Department of Geology and Mineral of Việt Nam|author1=Trần Tất Thắng |author2=Tống Duy Thanh |author3=Vũ Khúc |author4=Trịnh Dánh |author5=Đào Đình Thục |author6=Trần Văn Trị |author7=Lê Duy Bách|year=2000}}</ref> 

Arguments have continued about the role of tectonic extrusion in forming the basin. [[Paul Tapponnier]] and colleagues have argued that as India collides with Asia it pushes [[Indochina]] to the southeast. The relative shear between Indochina and China caused the South China Sea to open.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Jon Erickson|author2=Ernest Hathaway Muller|title=Rock Formations and Unusual Geologic Structures: Exploring the Earth's Surface|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DvlP-P7xctEC|year=2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-0970-1|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=DvlP–P7xctEC&pg=PA91 91]}}</ref> This view is disputed by geologists who do not consider Indochina to have moved far relative to mainland Asia. Marine geophysical studies in the Gulf of Tonkin by [[Peter Clift]] has shown that the [[Red River Fault]] was active and causing basin formation at least by 37 million years ago in the northwest South China Sea, consistent with extrusion playing a part in the formation of the sea.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Since opening, the South China Sea has been the repository of large sediment volumes delivered by the Mekong River, Red River and Pearl River. Several of these deltas are rich in oil and gas deposits.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

==Islands and seamounts==
{{See also|South China Sea Islands|list of islands in the South China Sea}}
{{unsourced section|date=May 2025}}
The South China Sea contains over 250 small [[island]]s, [[atoll]]s, [[cays]], [[shoals]], [[reef]]s, and [[sandbars]], most of which have no indigenous people, many of which are naturally under water at high tide, and some of which are permanently submerged. The features are:
[[File:Karta CN SouthChinaSea.PNG|thumb|upright|South China Sea]]
* The [[Spratly Islands]]
* The [[Paracel Islands]]
* [[Pratas Island]] and the Vereker Banks
* The [[Macclesfield Bank]]
* The [[Scarborough Shoal]]

The Spratly Islands spread over an 810 by 900&nbsp;km area covering some 175 identified insular features, the largest being [[Taiping Island]] (Itu Aba) at just over {{convert|1.3|km}} long and with its highest elevation at {{convert|3.8|m}}.

The largest singular feature in the area of the Spratly Islands is a {{convert|100|km}} wide [[seamount]] called [[Reed Tablemount]], also known as Reed Bank, in the northeast of the group, separated from Palawan Island of the Philippines by the Palawan Trench. Now completely submerged, with a depth of {{convert|20|m}}, it was an island until it was covered about 7,000 years ago by increasing sea levels after the [[Last Glacial Period|last ice age]]. With an area of {{convert|8,866|km2}}, it is one of the largest submerged atoll structures in the world.

==Trade route==
[[File:Major crude oil trade flows in the South China Sea (2016) (43582519014).png|thumb|upright=1.3|Millions of barrels of crude oil are traded through the South China Sea each day]]
The South China Sea has historically been an important trade route between northeast Asia, China, southeast Asia, and going to India and the west.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Portuguese as the First Maritime Power |url=https://hum54-15.omeka.fas.harvard.edu/exhibits/show/portuguese-india/maritime-power |access-date=7 May 2024 |website=Humanities 54, Harvard University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Themes {{!}} Asia for Educators {{!}} Columbia University |url=http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/main_pop/kpct/ct_korea.htm |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=afe.easia.columbia.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Beyond diplomacy. Japan and Vietnam during the 17th and 18th centuries {{!}} IIAS |url=https://www.iias.asia/the-newsletter/article/beyond-diplomacy-japan-vietnam-during-17th-18th-centuries |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=www.iias.asia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Japan and Vietnam -Archival Records on Our History- |url=https://www.archives.go.jp/event/jp_vn45/english/ch02.html |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=www.archives.go.jp}}</ref> The number of shipwrecks of trading ships that lie on the ocean's floor attest to a thriving trade going back centuries. Nine historic trade ships carrying ceramics dating back to the 10th century until the 19th century were excavated under Swedish engineer [[Sten Sjöstrand]].<ref>Shipwrecks
* {{cite web|url=https://www.skanesauktionsverk.se/sten-sjstrand|title=STEN SJÖSTRAND COLLECTION (Discovery and salvage of four Ming dynasty Chinese shipwrecks, Royal Nanhai, Nanyang, Xuande and Longquan loaded with stoneware and porcelain, made between 1440 and 1470, from e.g., Thailand, China and Vietnam)|access-date=February 8, 2022|website=mingwrecks.com}}
* Rodrigo, Jennifer. ''[http://www.mingwrecks.com/WhatOthersSay.html#anchor_63 History hunter underwater] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314090513/http://www.mingwrecks.com/WhatOthersSay.html#anchor_63 |date=2022-03-14 }}'', [[New Straits Times]]. 7/12/2004
* {{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9609/24/mala.ship/|title=Rare Ming dynasty ceramics found in shipwrecks|date=September 24, 1996|newspaper=CNN.com}}
* {{cite magazine|url=https://www.newsweek.com/race-ruins-145387|title=Race For Ruins|date=May 18, 2002|magazine=Newsweek}}</ref>

$3.4 trillion of the world's $16 trillion [[Maritime transport|maritime shipping]] passed through South China Sea in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-02 |title=How Much Trade Transits the South China Sea? |url=https://chinapower.csis.org/much-trade-transits-south-china-sea/ |website=[[Center for Strategic and International Studies]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The 2019 data shows that the sea carries trade equivalent to 5 per cent of global GDP.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-15 |title=There are bigger shipping choke points than Suez |url=https://www.afr.com/world/asia/there-are-bigger-shipping-choke-points-than-suez-20240115-p5exal |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref>

==Natural resources==

In 2012–2013, the [[Energy Information Administration|United States Energy Information Administration]] estimates very little oil and natural gas in contested areas such as the Paracel and the Spratly Islands. 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contested areas of South China Sea likely have few conventional oil and gas resources – Today in Energy – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |url=http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=10651 |website=[[Energy Information Administration]] |access-date=23 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523073201/http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=10651 |archive-date=23 May 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = All those oil and gas deposits everyone wants in the South China Sea may not even be there|url = https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/04/05/all-those-oil-and-gas-deposits-everyone-wants-in-the-south-china-sea-may-not-even-be-there/|website = Foreign Policy| date=5 April 2013 |access-date = 23 May 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150523055354/http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/04/05/all-those-oil-and-gas-deposits-everyone-wants-in-the-south-china-sea-may-not-even-be-there/|archive-date = 23 May 2015|url-status = live}}</ref>

In 2010, the Western Central Pacific (excluding the northernmost reaches of the South China Sea closest to the PRC coast) accounted for 14% of the total world catch from commercial fishing of 11.7 million tonnes. This was up from less than 4 million tonnes in 1970.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/i2727e/i2727e01.pdf|title=World review of fisheries and aquaculture|publisher=Food and Agriculture Organisation|year=2012|location=Rome|pages=55–59|access-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828131307/http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/i2727e/i2727e01.pdf|archive-date=28 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

China announced in May 2017 a breakthrough for mining [[methane clathrate]]s, when they extracted methane from hydrates in the South China Sea, but commercial adoption may take a decade or more.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-39971667|title=China claims breakthrough in 'flammable ice'|work=BBC News|date=19 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/19/china-taps-lode-of-fire-ice-in-south-china-sea/|title=China Taps Lode of 'Fire Ice' in South China Sea|author1=Robbie Gramer |author2=Keith Johnson|date=29 January 2024 }}</ref>

==Territorial claims==
{{Main|Territorial disputes in the South China Sea|Spratly Islands dispute|Timeline of the South China Sea dispute|Regional reactions to China's maritime activities in the South China Sea}}
<!--{{Spratly Islands OSM}} or {{Spratly Islands MAP}} -->
{{Spratly Islands OSM}}
<!--{{Spratly Islands OSM}} or {{Spratly Islands MAP}} -->
[[File:Spratly with flags.jpg|thumb|250px|Map of various countries occupying the [[Spratly Islands]]]]
Several countries have made competing territorial claims over the South China Sea. Such disputes have been regarded as Asia's most potentially dangerous point of conflict.
Both the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) and the [[Republic of China]] (ROC, commonly known as Taiwan) claim almost the entire body as their own, demarcating their claims within what is known as the "[[nine-dash line]]", which claims overlap with virtually every other country in the region. Competing claims include:
* Indonesia, Vietnam,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Randy Mulyanto |date=2020-11-02 |title=Vietnamese ships in Indonesian waters show extent of Asean maritime disputes |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3108079/its-not-just-south-china-sea-vietnamese-vessels-indonesian |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=[[South China Morning Post]] |language=en}}</ref> China, and Taiwan over waters northeast of the [[Natuna Islands]]
* The Philippines, China, and Taiwan over [[Scarborough Shoal]].
* Vietnam, China, and Taiwan over waters west of the [[Spratly Islands]]. Some or all of the islands themselves are also disputed between Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
* The [[Paracel Islands]] are disputed between China, Taiwan and Vietnam.
* Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam over areas in the [[Gulf of Thailand]].
* Singapore and Malaysia along the [[Straits of Johor|Strait of Johore]] and the [[Singapore Strait|Strait of Singapore]].

China and Vietnam have both been vigorous in prosecuting their claims. China (various governments) and South Vietnam [[Paracel Islands#Historical perspectives|each controlled part of the Paracel Islands before 1974]]. A [[Battle of the Paracel Islands|brief conflict in 1974]] resulted in 18 Chinese and 53 Vietnamese deaths, and China has controlled the whole of Paracel since then. The Spratly Islands have been the site of a naval clash, in which over 70 Vietnamese sailors were killed just south of [[Chigua Reef]] in March 1988. Disputing claimants regularly report clashes between naval vessels,<ref name=tension>{{cite journal|last =Scobellfirst =A.|year =2018|title= The South China Sea and US-China Rivalry|journal =Political Science Quarterly|volume =133|issue= 2|pages=199–224|doi =10.1080/23311983.2024.2383107|doi-access =free}}{{rp|pp=206-215}}</ref> and these now also include airspace incidents.<ref name=Nguyen2024>{{cite journal|last1 =Nguyễn|first1 =A.C.|last2 =Phạm|first2= M.T.|last3 =Nguyễn|first3 =V.H.|last4 =Trần|first4 =B.H.|year =2024|title=Explaining the increase of China's power in the South China Sea through international relation theories|journal =Cogent Arts & Humanities|volume =11|issue =1|doi =10.1080/23311983.2024.2383107|at =2383107|doi-access =free}}</ref>

[[ASEAN]] in general, and Malaysia in particular, have been keen to ensure that the territorial disputes within the South China Sea do not escalate into armed conflict. As such, joint development authorities have been set up in areas of overlapping claims to jointly develop the area and divide the profits equally without settling the issue of sovereignty over the area. This is true particularly in the Gulf of Thailand. Generally, China has preferred to resolve competing claims bilaterally,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/world/2010-07/26/content_20571259.htm|title=Direct bilateral dialogue 'best way to solve disputes' – China.org.cn|website=www.china.org.cn}}</ref> while some ASEAN countries prefer multilateral talks,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100727194701/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100723/pl_afp/aseanarfchinausmilitary_20100723133312 Resolving S.China Sea disputes pivotal to stability: Clinton] [[AFP News]], archived from [https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100723/pl_afp/aseanarfchinausmilitary_20100723133312 the original] on 2010-07-27)</ref> believing that they are disadvantaged in bilateral negotiations with the much larger China and that because many countries claim the same territory only multilateral talks could effectively resolve the competing claims.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/world/asia/05hanoi.html?scp=2&sq=ASEAN%20South%20china%20sea%20multilateral&st=cse | work=The New York Times | first=Edward | last=Wong | title=Vietnam Enlists Allies to Stave Off China's Reach | date=February 5, 2010}}</ref>

The overlapping claims over [[Pedra Branca, Singapore|Pedra Branca]] or [[Pedra Branca, Singapore|Pulau Batu Putih]] including the neighbouring [[Middle Rocks]] by both Singapore and Malaysia were settled in 2008 by the [[International Court of Justice]], awarding Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore and the Middle Rocks to Malaysia.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge | first1=Coalter G.|last1 =Lathrop | journal=The American Journal of International Law | year=2008 | volume=102 | issue=4 | jstor=20456682 | pages=828–834 | doi=10.2307/20456682| s2cid=142147633 | url=https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/faculty_scholarship/1910 | url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In July 2010, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for China to resolve the territorial dispute. China responded by demanding the US keep out of the issue. This came at a time when both countries had been engaging in naval exercises in a show of force to the opposing side, which increased tensions in the region.<ref name=tension /> The [[US Department of Defense]] released a statement on August 18 where it opposed the use of force to resolve the dispute, and accused China of assertive behaviour.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sinaga|first=Lidya Christin|date=2015|title=China's Assertive Foreign Policy in South China Sea Under XI Jinping: Its Impact on United States and Australian Foreign Policy|journal=Journal of ASEAN Studies|language=en|volume=3|issue=2|pages=133–149|doi=10.21512/jas.v3i2.770|issn=2338-1361|doi-access=free}}</ref> On July 22, 2011, one of India's amphibious assault vessels, the [[INS Airavat (L24)|INS ''Airavat'']] which was on a friendly visit to Vietnam, was reportedly contacted at a distance of {{convert|45|nmi|km}} from the Vietnamese coast in the disputed South China Sea on an open radio channel by a vessel identifying itself as the Chinese Navy and stating that the ship was entering Chinese waters.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_india-china-face-off-in-south-china-sea-report_1582481|title =India-China face-off in South China Sea: Report|date=2 September 2011|work=dna}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2 September 2011|url=http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers47/paper4677.html|title =Paper no. 4677 INS Airavat Incident: What does it Portend?|website=South Asia Analysis Group|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330094421/http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers47/paper4677.html|archive-date=2012-03-30}}</ref> The spokesperson for the Indian Navy clarified that as no ship or aircraft was visible from INS ''Airavat'' it proceeded on her onward journey as scheduled. The Indian Navy further clarified that "[t]here was no confrontation involving the INS Airavat. India supports freedom of navigation in international waters, including in the South China Sea, and the right of passage in accordance with accepted principles of international law. These principles should be respected by all."<ref name=autogenerated3 />

In September 2011, shortly after China and Vietnam had signed an agreement seeking to contain a dispute over the South China Sea, India's state-run explorer, [[Oil and Natural Gas Corporation]] (ONGC) said that its overseas investment arm ONGC Videsh Limited had signed a three-year deal with [[PetroVietnam]] for developing long-term cooperation in the oil sector<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.gatewayhouse.in/india-china-and-the-south-china-sea/|title=How India is Impacted by China's Assertiveness in the S. China Sea|last=GatewayHouse|date=2015-06-11|work=Gateway House|access-date=2017-06-02|language=en-US}}</ref> and that it had accepted Vietnam's offer of exploration in certain specified blocks in the South China Sea.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-59915220111016|title=China paper warns India off Vietnam oil deal|date=16 October 2011|work=Reuters India|access-date=5 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725192149/http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/10/16/idINIndia-59915220111016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu issued a protest.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite web |last=[[B. Raman]] |date=17 September 2011 |title=South China Sea: India should avoid rushing in where even US exercises caution|url=http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers48%5Cpaper4702.html  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924183534/http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers48/paper4702.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |website=South Asia Analysis Group}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2455647.ece|title=China warns India on South China Sea exploration projects|author=Ananth Krishnan|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15 September 2011}}</ref> The spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India responded by saying that "The Chinese had concerns but we are going by what the Vietnamese authorities have told us and have conveyed this to the Chinese."<ref name=autogenerated2 /> The Indo-Vietnamese deal was also denounced by the Chinese state-run newspaper ''[[Global Times]]''.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name=autogenerated4 />

In 1999, Taiwan claimed the entirety of the South China Sea islands under the [[Lee Teng-hui]] administration.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20000929110352/http://www.atimes.com/china/AG15Ad01.html Taiwan sticks to its guns, to U.S. chagrin], July 14, 1999.</ref> The entire subsoil, seabed and waters of the Paracels and Spratlys are claimed by Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 May 2014 |title=Taiwan reiterates Paracel Islands sovereignty claim |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/05/11/2003590086 |access-date=11 November 2016 |website=[[Taipei Times]]}}</ref>

In 2012 and 2013, Vietnam and Taiwan butted heads against each other over anti-Vietnamese military exercises by Taiwan.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140517134232/http://www.newshome.us/news-2144953-Photo:-Taiwan-military-exercises-with-Vietnam-as-an-imaginary-enemy-generals-admit-Taiping-Island.html Photo: Taiwan military exercises with Vietnam as an imaginary enemy generals admit Taiping Island], September 5, 2012.<br />
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140325175801/http://www.philippinenews.com/read/latest-news/8067-vietnams-angry-at-taiwan-as-it-stages-live-fire-drill-in-the-spratlys.html Vietnam's angry at Taiwan as it stages live-fire drill in the Spratlys], 12 August 2012.<br />
[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-08-23/vietnam-demands-taiwan-cancel-spratly-island-live-fire-drill Vietnam Demands Taiwan Cancel Spratly Island Live Fire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826134250/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-08-23/vietnam-demands-taiwan-cancel-spratly-island-live-fire-drill |date=2016-08-26 }}, March 1, 2013.<br />
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140325175721/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120905000091&cid=1101 Taiwan unmoved by Vietnam's protest against Taiping drill], September 5, 2012<br /></ref>
 
In May 2014, China established an [[Haiyang Shiyou 981 standoff|oil rig]] near the Paracel Islands, leading to multiple incidents between Vietnamese and Chinese ships.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |date=12 July 2016 |title=Q&A: South China Sea dispute |newspaper=[[BBC]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13748349}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Bloomberg News |author-link=Bloomberg News |date=6 June 2014 |title=Vietnam Says China Still Ramming Boats, Airs Sinking Video |newspaper=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-05/vietnam-says-china-still-harassing-boats-shows-video-of-sinking.html |access-date=6 June 2014}}</ref> Vietnamese analysis identifies this change in strategy generating on going incidents as occurring since 2012.<ref name=Nguyen2024 />

In December 2018, retired Chinese admiral [[Luo Yuan (admiral)|Luo Yuan]] proposed that a possible solution to tensions with the United States in the South China Sea would be to sink one or two [[United States Navy]] aircraft carriers to break US morale.<ref name=BILockie>{{cite web|first=Alex |last=Lockie |title= China sets the stage for a 'bloody nose' attack on US aircraft carriers, but it would backfire horribly |website=[[Business Insider]]|date= January 11, 2019|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-threats-to-attack-us-aircraft-carriers-would-backfire-horribly-2019-1 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Jerry |last=Hendrix |title= China should think twice before threatening to attack Americans|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=January 4, 2019 |url= https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/china-should-think-twice-before-threatening-to-attack-americans }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Gordon G. |author-link=Gordon G. Chang |date=December 31, 2018 |title=Forty Years After U.S. Recognition, China Is 'America's Greatest Foreign Policy Failure' |newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]] |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/forty-years-after-us-recognition-china-is-americas-greatest-foreign-policy-failure}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=罗援少将在2018军工榜颁奖典礼与创新峰会上的演讲 – Major General Luo Yuan's speech at the 2018 Military Industry Awards Ceremony and Innovation Summit|publisher=kunlunce.com/|date=December 25, 2018|url=http://www.kunlunce.com/ssjj/guojipinglun/2018-12-25/130147.html|quote=现在美国有11艘航空母舰，我们是不是要发展12艘航母，才能跟美国抗衡呢？我觉得这种思路错了，我们不能搞军备竞赛。历史的经验告诉我们，美国最怕死人。我们现在有东风21D、东风26导弹，这是航母杀手锏，我们击沉它一艘航母，让它伤亡5000人/ Now there are 11 aircraft carriers in the United States. Do we want to develop 12 aircraft carriers to compete with the United States? I think this kind of thinking is wrong. We can't engage in an arms race. Historical experience tells us that the United States is most afraid of the dead. We now have Dongfeng 21D and Dongfeng 26 missiles. This is the aircraft carrier killer. If we sink an aircraft carrier, it will kill 5,000 people; if we sink two ships, we kill 10,000 people.|access-date=May 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331020030/http://www.kunlunce.com/ssjj/guojipinglun/2018-12-25/130147.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> Also in December 2018, Chinese commentator and Senior Colonel in the [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]], [[Dai Xu]] suggested that China's navy should ram [[United States Navy]] ships sailing in the South China Sea.<ref name=BILockie /><ref>{{Cite web|first=Duncan |last=Deaeth |title= Senior Chinese military official urges PLAN to attack US naval vessels in S. China Sea |publisher=[[Taiwan News]]|date=December 8, 2018 |url= https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3592985 }}</ref>

The US, although not a signatory to [[United States and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea|UNCLOS]], has maintained its position that its naval vessels have consistently sailed unhindered through the South China Sea and will continue to do so.<ref>US Chief of Naval Operations, [[John M. Richardson (admiral)|Admiral John M. Richardson]], {{YouTube|YwOq7BcfXU4|John M. Richardson: "Maintaining Maritime Superiority"}}, Lecture at Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center. / Feb 2019, minutes 38:22–41:25; 49:39–52:00.</ref> At times US warships have come within the 12 nautical-mile limit of Chinese-controlled islands (such as the Paracel Islands), arousing China's ire.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goelman |first=Zachary |title=U.S. Navy ship sails in disputed South China Sea amid trade talks with Beijing |agency=Reuters |date=7 January 2019 |url=https://news.yahoo.com/u-navy-ship-sails-disputed-135544543.html }}</ref> During the US Chief of Naval Operations' visit to China in early 2019, he and his Chinese counterpart worked out rules of engagement, whenever American warships and Chinese warships met up on the high seas.<ref>US Chief of Naval Operations, [[John M. Richardson (admiral)|Admiral John M. Richardson]], {{YouTube|YwOq7BcfXU4|John M. Richardson: "Maintaining Maritime Superiority"}}, Lecture at Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center. / Feb 2019.</ref>

On 26 June 2020, the 36th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit was held virtually. Vietnam, as the Chairman of the Summit, released the Chairman's Statement. The statement said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is "the basis for determining maritime entitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests over maritime zones, and the 1982 UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out."<ref>{{cite web |last1= B Pitlo III|first1=Lucio| title=ASEAN stops pulling punches over South China Sea|date=3 July 2020|url= https://asiatimes.com/2020/07/asean-stops-pulling-punches-over-south-china-sea/|access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200817052619/https://asiatimes.com/2020/07/asean-stops-pulling-punches-over-south-china-sea/| archive-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>

===2016 arbitration===
{{main|South China Sea Arbitration}}

In January 2013, the Philippines initiated arbitration proceedings against China (PRC) over issues surrounding the [[nine-dash line]], characterization of maritime features, and EEZ.<ref name="PCA Award">{{cite web |url = http://www.pcacases.com/pcadocs/PH-CN%20-%2020160712%20-%20Award.pdf |title=PCA Case No 2013-19 |publisher=Permanent Court of Arbitration |date=12 July 2016}}</ref>{{refn|PCA Award, Section V(F)(d)(264, 266, 267), p. 113.<ref name="PCA Award" />}}{{refn|PCA Award, Section II(A), p. 11.<ref name="PCA Award" />}}<ref>{{cite news |date=12 July 2016 |title=Timeline: South China Sea dispute |work=[[Financial Times]] |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/aa32a224-480e-11e6-8d68-72e9211e86ab.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/aa32a224-480e-11e6-8d68-72e9211e86ab.html |archive-date=2022-12-10 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4400671/philippines-south-china-sea-arbitration-case/?xid=homepage | magazine=TIME |title=China's Global Reputation Hinges on Upcoming South China Sea Court Decision|first=Hannah |last= Beech |date= 11 July 2016}}</ref> China did not participate in the arbitration.<ref name=":04">{{Cite book |last=Wang |first=Frances Yaping |title=The Art of State Persuasion: China's Strategic Use of Media in Interstate Disputes |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197757512}}</ref>{{Rp|page=127}}

On 12 July 2016, an [[arbitral tribunal]] ruled in favor of the Philippines on most of its submissions. It clarified that it would not "rule on any question of sovereignty over land territory and would not delimit any maritime boundary between the Parties" but concluded that China had not historically exercised exclusive control within the nine-dash line, hence has "no legal basis" to claim "historic rights" over the resources.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pca-cpa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2016/07/PH-CN-20160712-Press-Release-No-11-English.pdf |title=Press Release: The South China Sea Arbitration (''The Republic of the Philippines v. The People's Republic of China'') |date=12 July 2016 |publisher=PCA |access-date=13 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712201412/https://pca-cpa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2016/07/PH-CN-20160712-Press-Release-No-11-English.pdf |archive-date=12 July 2016}}</ref> It also concluded that China's historic rights claims over the maritime areas (as opposed to land masses and territorial waters) inside the nine-dash line would have no lawful effect outside of what's entitled to under UNCLOS.{{refn|PCA Award, Section V(F)(d)(278), p. 117.<ref name="PCA Award" />}} It criticized China's land reclamation projects and its construction of artificial islands in the Spratly Islands, saying that it had caused "severe harm to the coral reef environment".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/12/philippines-wins-south-china-sea-case-against-china |title=Beijing rejects tribunal's ruling in South China Sea case |author=Tom Phillips |author2=Oliver Holmes |author3=Owen Bowcott |date=12 July 2016 |work=The Guardian |access-date=13 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712220441/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/12/philippines-wins-south-china-sea-case-against-china |archive-date=12 July 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Finally, it characterized [[Taiping Island]] and other features of the Spratly Islands as "rocks" under UNCLOS, and therefore are not entitled to a 200 nautical mile [[exclusive economic zone]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-rejects-south-china-sea-ruling-says-will-deploy-another-navy-vessel-to-itu-aba | work = [[The Straits Times]] | date = 12 July 2016 | first = Jermyn | last = Chow | title = Taiwan rejects South China Sea ruling, says will deploy another navy vessel to Taiping | access-date = 13 July 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180617015244/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-rejects-south-china-sea-ruling-says-will-deploy-another-navy-vessel-to-itu-aba | archive-date = 17 June 2018 | url-status = live}}</ref> The arbitral tribunal decision was ruled as final and non-appealable by either country.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/china/21702069-region-and-america-will-now-anxiously-await-chinas-response-un-appointed-tribunal |title=A UN-appointed tribunal dismisses China's claims in the South China Sea |date=12 July 2016 |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=14 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913091610/https://www.economist.com/news/china/21702069-region-and-america-will-now-anxiously-await-chinas-response-un-appointed-tribunal |archive-date=13 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/world/asia/south-china-sea-hague-ruling-philippines.html?_r=0 |title=Beijing's South China Sea Claims Rejected by Hague Tribunal |first=Jane |last=Perez |date=12 July 2016 |work=The New York Times |access-date=28 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712152027/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/world/asia/south-china-sea-hague-ruling-philippines.html?_r=0 |archive-date=12 July 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> 

China rejected the ruling, calling it "ill-founded".<ref name="BBC 2016">{{cite news |date=12 July 2016 |title=South China Sea: Tribunal backs case against China brought by Philippines |work=[[BBC]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-36771749 |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620040633/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-36771749 |archive-date=20 June 2018}}</ref> China's response was to ignore the arbitration result and to continue pursuing bilateral discussions with the Philippines.<ref name=":04" />{{Rp|page=128}}

Taiwan, which currently administers Taiping Island, the largest of the Spratly Islands, also rejected the ruling.<ref>{{cite news |author=Jun Mai |author2=Shi Jiangtao |date=12 July 2016 |title=Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island is a rock, says international court in South China Sea ruling |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1988990/taiwan-controlled-taiping-island-rock-says |url-status=live |access-date=13 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715074244/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1988990/taiwan-controlled-taiping-island-rock-says |archive-date=15 July 2016}}</ref> {{As of|November 2023}}, 26 governments support the ruling, 17 issued generally positive statements noting the ruling but not called for compliance, and eight rejected it.<ref name="AMTI2023">{{Cite web |url=https://amti.csis.org/arbitration-support-tracker/ |title=Arbitration Support Tracker {{!}} Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative |publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies |access-date=25 August 2024 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715042422/https://amti.csis.org/arbitration-support-tracker/|archive-date=15 July 2024}}</ref> The governments in support are [[Australia]], [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[Canada]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Denmark]], [[Finland]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Greece]], [[India]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], [[Italy]], Japan, the [[Netherlands]], [[New Zealand]], the Philippines, [[Poland]], [[Portugal]], [[Romania]], [[Slovakia]], [[South Korea]], [[Spain]], [[Sweden]], the [[United Kingdom]], and the United States; the governments in opposition are China, [[Montenegro]], [[Pakistan]], Russia, [[Sudan]], [[Syria]], Taiwan, and [[Vanuatu]].<ref name="AMTI2023" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180209060419/https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/07/15/south-china-sea-arbitration/ Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the Award rendered in the Arbitration between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China] (archived from [https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/07/15/south-china-sea-arbitration the original] on February 9, 2018)</ref> The [[United Nations]] itself does not have a position on the legal and procedural merits of the case or on the disputed claims, and the Secretary-General expressed his hope that the continued consultations on a Code of Conduct between [[ASEAN]] and China under the framework of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea will lead to increased mutual understanding among all the parties.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2016/db160712.doc.htm |title=Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General|date=12 July 2016 |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 October 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Oceans}}
* [[List of maritime features in the Spratly Islands]]
* [[West Philippine Sea]]
* [[Natuna Sea]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |editor-last=Beckman |editor-first=Robert |display-editors=etal |title=Beyond Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea: Legal Frameworks for the Joint Development of Hydrocarbon Resources |publisher=Edward Elgar |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-78195-593-2}}
* Francois-Xavier Bonnet, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150427122724/http://www.irasec.com/ouvrage34, Geopolitics of Scarborough Shoal], Irasec Discussion Paper 14, November 2012 
* C. Michael Hogan (2011) [http://www.eoearth.org/article/South_China_Sea?topic=49523 ''South China Sea'' Topic ed. P. Saundry. Ed.-in-chief C.J. Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC]
* Clive Schofield et al., [http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=522 From Disputed Waters to Seas of Opportunity: Overcoming Barriers to Maritime Cooperation in East and Southeast Asia] (July 2011)
* UNEP (2007). ''{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080905195204/http://www.unepscs.org/SCS_Documents/Download/19_-_Technical_Publications_and_Guidelines/Technical_Publication_09_-_Review_of_the_Legal_Aspects_of_Environmental_Management_in_the_South_China_Sea_and_Gulf_of_Thailand.html Review of the Legal Aspects of Environmental Management in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand]}}''. UNEP/GEF/SCS Technical Publication No. 9.
* Wang, Gungwu (2003). ''The Nanhai Trade: Early Chinese Trade in the South China Sea''. Marshall Cavendish International. {{ISBN|9789812102416}}.
* Keyan Zou (2005). ''[https://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0420/2004016026.html Law of the sea in East Asia: issues and prospects]''. London/New York: Rutledge Curzon. {{ISBN|0-415-35074-3}}
* United States. Congress. (2014). [https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo50612 Maritime Sovereignty in the East and South China Seas: Joint Hearing before the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces of the Committee on Armed Services Meeting Jointly with the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (Serial No. 113-137), House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, Hearing held January 14, 2014]

==External links==
{{Commons category|South China Sea}}
{{wikinewscat}}
* [http://www.nbr.org/research/activity.aspx?id=262 ASEAN and the South China Sea: Deepening Divisions] Q&A with Ian J. Storey (July 2012)
* [http://www.nbr.org/research/activity.aspx?id=151 Rising Tensions in the South China Sea], June 2011 Q&A with Ian J. Storey
* [http://chinadigitaltimes.net/china/south-china-sea/ News collections on The South China Sea] on [[China Digital Times]]
* [http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2008/02/south-china-sea-project.html The South China Sea on Google Earth] – featured on Google Earth's Official Blog
* [http://community.middlebury.edu/~scs/ South China Sea Virtual Library] – online resource for students, scholars and policy-makers interested in South China Sea regional development, environment, and security issues.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101030031639/http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/South_China_Sea/Background.html Energy Information Administration – The South China Sea]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080522024651/http://www.tracc.org.my/Borneocoast/biogeography/SOUTH_CHINA_SEA.html Tropical Research and Conservation Centre – The South China Sea]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041206223201/http://www.iccwbo.org/ccs/imb_piracy/weekly_piracy_report.asp Weekly Piracy Report] 
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030125003953/http://www.unepscs.org/ Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand]}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011045720/http://www.unepscs.org/SCS_Documents/Download/14_-_South_China_Sea_Project_Knowledge_Documents.html UNEP/GEF South China Sea Knowledge Documents]}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh0CzIyg2Lc Audio] Radio communication between United States Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft operating under international law and the Chinese Navy warnings.
* [https://sea.lib.niu.edu/seadl/islandora/object/seadl%3A35 A 1775 Chart of the China Sea {{!}} Southeast Asia Digital Library]
{{South China Sea}}
{{List of Philippine seas}}
{{China Seas}}
{{List of Indonesian seas}}
{{List of seas}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:South China Sea| ]]
[[Category:Marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Maritime Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Seas of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Seas of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Seas of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Brunei]]
[[Category:Seas of China]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Macau]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Singapore]]
[[Category:Seas of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Disputed territories in Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of China]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of the Republic of China]]
[[Category:Indonesia–Vietnam border]]
[[Category:Malaysia–Vietnam border]]
[[Category:Seas of Asia]]
[[Category:China Seas]]