Book details historical basis of China's sovereignty in South China Sea

A new book examining the historical basis of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea was released in Beijing on Thursday.

Titled "History and Facts of the South China Sea," the book is the result of a seven-year research project conducted by a team of more than 10 scholars from across China.

The book launch was jointly hosted by the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, based in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province; the National Institute for South China Sea Studies; and the Zhejiang Publishing United Group.

According to the publishers, the book draws on a wide range of Chinese and foreign archival materials and major historical events to examine China's historical presence and activities in the region.

It aims to address gaps in existing historical research and present evidence-based arguments to the international community in support of China's maritime claims.

The book approaches the South China Sea issue from multiple disciplines, including history, international law, international relations, cartography and geography, offering a broad analysis of the issue, the publishers said.

Wu Shicun, lead editor of the book and chairman of the Huayang Center, said at the book launch that some existing publications on the South China Sea published overseas are rife with errors and misconceptions.

"In response, we in 2018 initiated the project to produce a book that directly addresses and corrects these flawed narratives, aiming to set the historical record straight," he explained.

Wu added that he believes the book will play a constructive role in clarifying facts surrounding the South China Sea issue and in strengthening China's voice and discourse on the matter internationally.

He also revealed that an English edition is planned for future release.

Citing authoritative ancient Chinese texts, the book explains that Chinese people were already active in the South China Sea as early as several centuries BCE, and have been continuously present in the region.

In 1946, Chinese forces reasserted sovereignty over the South China Sea islands by landing on and taking control of several islands and reefs from Japanese occupation, while implementing a series of measures to consolidate China's sovereign claims, according to the book.

Around the 1970s, the evolution of international maritime law, coupled with the discovery of abundant oil and gas resources in the South China Sea, served as a catalyst for disputes in the region.

"China's sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and its related rights and interests in the South China Sea were established through a long historical process, consistently upheld by successive Chinese governments, and widely recognized by the international community," Hu Wei, representative of boundary and ocean affairs of the Foreign Ministry of China, said at the book launch.

Studying the history of the South China Sea helps clarify the origins of China's rights, trace the roots of the disputes, and affirm continuous jurisdiction by successive Chinese governments, providing a historical grounding to upholding sovereignty and maritime interests both now and in the future, added Hu.

The new book not only presents a comprehensive body of historical evidence but also challenges several widely circulated international narratives that, according to the editors, lack credible documentary support.

The publishers stated that the book aims to revive international awareness of the historical record of the South China Sea and to contribute to a more accurate global understanding of the issue.