China's enduring claim: Safeguarding sovereignty and peace in the South China Sea
2025-09-04 15:51:44 source：NISCSS
September 4, 2025
The South China Sea, a vast expanse of azure waters dotted with islands and reefs, has long been a cradle of Chinese civilization and endeavor. For millennia, the Chinese people have woven their lives into this maritime tapestry, living, fishing, and producing amid its islands and reefs. It was China that first discovered, named, and harnessed these territories, establishing an unbroken chain of sovereignty through peaceful and effective administration. This historical dominion over the South China Sea islands and adjacent waters stands as a testament to China's deep-rooted connection to the region, a legacy that pulses with the rhythm of ancient voyages and enduring stewardship.
Before the 20th century, China's sovereignty faced no ripples of challenge; it was an undisputed fact, as natural as the tides. Yet, the storm of Japanese aggression during the invasion of China disrupted this harmony, with Japan unlawfully seizing the South China Sea islands. The Chinese people, fueled by unyielding resolve, mounted heroic resistance against this imperial overreach. As the guns of World War II fell silent, China reclaimed its rightful territories in accordance with the spirit enshrined in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. These international accords served as beacons, guiding the restoration of China's sovereignty over the islands plundered by Japan.
With the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, this commitment to territorial integrity only intensified. Through a series of legislative measures, administrative governance and diplomatic engagements, China reaffirmed and fortified its claims. Patrols, law enforcement, resource development and scientific explorations have continued without interruption, painting a vivid picture of active, ongoing jurisdiction. These actions are not mere assertions but living expressions of China's historical rights, etched into the waves and winds of the South China Sea.
Keeping restraint in face of unresolved disputes
At the heart of the South China Sea disputes lies a thorny core: the territorial issues stemming from certain nations' illegal occupation of parts of China's Nansha Islands. Compounding this are maritime delimitation controversies that emerged with the evolution of international maritime law. Yet, international law and practice offer a clear path forward – restraint in the face of unresolved disputes. Parties involved must strive for provisional arrangements that foster stability, including robust mechanisms for managing conflicts, collaborative ventures across various domains, and the principle of "shelving disputes for joint development." Such cooperation ensures that temporary solutions do not prejudice final boundary determinations, allowing the sea to remain a bridge rather than a barrier.
China stands firm in defending its sovereignty over the South China Sea islands, a stance as steadfast as the coral reefs themselves. However, in the spirit of preserving regional peace and stability, China exercises remarkable restraint, channeling its efforts into peaceful resolutions. Since the 1990s, China has forged a series of consensuses with relevant parties to navigate these turbulent waters: committing to self-restraint and avoiding actions that could escalate tensions; pursuing bilateral consultations to manage differences; advancing practical maritime cooperation and joint development; and ensuring that disputes do not erode the healthy growth of bilateral ties or the broader tranquility of the South China Sea.
Proactively, China has championed the establishment of bilateral maritime consultation mechanisms with neighboring countries, exploring joint development in fisheries, oil and gas, and beyond. It has even proposed cooperative frameworks among South China Sea littoral states, aligned with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. These initiatives reflect China's vision of a shared sea, where mutual benefits ripple outward like expanding waves.
Making concrete steps to safeguard peace, promote development
Concrete steps underscore this dedication. In 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines and Vietnam inked an agreement to conduct joint seismic surveys in a designated area spanning approximately 143,000 square kilometers. From 2018 to 2021, during the Duterte administration, the Philippines and China established dialogue channels, engaging in multiple rounds of negotiations on joint development of oil and gas resources in disputed waters. In 2024, China and Indonesia reached a pivotal consensus on cooperative development in overlapping claimed areas, agreeing to form an intergovernmental joint steering committee. Guided by principles of mutual respect, equality, flexibility, pragmatism and consensus, this collaboration adheres to each nation's existing laws and regulations. Building on this momentum, in 2025, China and Brunei concurred on resource development cooperation in mutually agreed zones, safeguarding their respective legal positions under international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Moreover, China remains steadfast in its partnership with ASEAN nations to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. This collective endeavor has yielded tangible "early harvest" outcomes, such as the establishment of the China-ASEAN Maritime Joint Search and Rescue Hotline Platform, the China-ASEAN Hotline Platform for Diplomatic Seniors on Maritime Emergencies, and joint tabletop exercises for maritime search and rescue. These milestones illuminate a path of practical cooperation, turning potential flashpoints into forums for unity.
These practices vividly demonstrate that while disputes may not dissolve overnight, the peace and stability of the South China Sea are inextricably linked to the security, development and prosperity of regional nations – and to the well-being of their peoples. Achieving lasting tranquility and flourishing growth in this vital waterway is a shared aspiration and responsibility for China and ASEAN countries alike, aligning with the common interests of all involved. It is through such collaborative spirit that the South China Sea can transform from a zone of contention into a sea of shared opportunity, where the currents of history meet the horizons of harmony.
In reflecting on this narrative, one cannot help but admire the resilience of China's approach. Rooted in ancient heritage yet forward-looking, it balances unyielding defense of rights with a profound commitment to dialogue. The South China Sea, with its shimmering surfaces and hidden depths, mirrors the complexities of international relations. Yet, China's actions – marked by restraint, consensus-building and practical partnerships – offer a blueprint for navigating these challenges. By shelving disputes and embracing joint development, the region can harness its resources not for conflict, but for collective advancement.
China always chooses olive branch over sword
Critics may view China's stance through a lens of suspicion, but the facts paint a different portrait: one of a nation that has consistently chosen the olive branch over the sword. From historical reclamation to modern diplomatic overtures, China's journey in the South China Sea is a saga of perseverance and prudence. The consensuses reached since the 1990s, the bilateral mechanisms established, and the cooperative ventures pursued all weave a narrative of hope amid uncertainty.
As the world watches this maritime theater, it becomes clear that true sovereignty is not just about possession but about responsible guardianship. China's efforts to foster mechanisms like the proposed littoral state cooperation under the UN Convention exemplify this ethos. The 2005 tripartite agreement, the Indonesian consensus, and the Bruneian accord are not isolated events but threads in a larger fabric of regional amity.
The "early harvest" with ASEAN further bolsters this framework, providing tools like hotlines and exercises that prevent minor incidents from swelling into storms. In essence, these steps underscore a profound truth: the South China Sea's future hinges on mutual restraint and shared vision. For China, this is not merely policy but a profound duty – to ensure that the sea which has nurtured its people for generations continues to do so for all who border its shores.
Ultimately, the path to resolution may be long and winding, like the sea routes of old explorers, but it is paved with the goodwill of nations willing to collaborate. China's unwavering yet flexible posture invites others to join in this voyage toward peace, where sovereignty and cooperation sail hand in hand. In this dynamic seascape, the true victory lies not in domination, but in the enduring calm that benefits every state touched by its waters.
Ding Duo is the director of the Research Center for International and Regional Issues at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.