Advertisement
Advertisement
Paracel Islands
TOPIC
 / location

Paracel Islands

Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands, known as the Xisha Islands in China and the Hoang Sa Archipelago in Vietnam, is a group of more than 30 islands in the South China Sea located between the coastlines of Vietnam and China. They are currently controlled by China but also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. The islands were the scene of a naval battle between China and then South Vietnam in January 1974, after which China gained control of the entire archipelago.
Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro meets China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Pasay last Wednesday. Photo: EPA
South China Sea

‘Negotiation fatigue’ risks stalling South China Sea code of conduct progress

Efforts to finalise the code between Asean and China this year are hampered to a large extent by differences between Manila and Beijing.

videocam
16
South China Sea

How Beijing’s islands of control are reshaping the South China Sea

videocam
24
South China Sea

Japan’s ‘destructive potential’ in South China Sea may eclipse the US: analyst

videocam
45
South China Sea

Is China’s island-building push at Antelope Reef nearing the finish line?

Satellite images suggest construction at the South China Sea atoll, now Beijing’s biggest outpost in the Paracels, is entering a new phase.

10
New satellite images show China has built a long, reinforced quay on Antelope Reef’s lagoon. Photo: EU
Open Questions series

Open Questions | Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

Leading Chinese expert says more fixed facilities could be built in the South China Sea if ‘external forces leave us no choice’.

videocam
28
South China Sea

Open Questions | South China Sea expert Wu Shicun on Beijing’s red lines

A decade after The Hague ruling against China on the South China Sea, Beijing is open to dialogue on disputes but will not fall for ‘petty games’, Wu Shicun says.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
South China Sea

China discovers rare coral reef blue hole in disputed Scarborough Shoal

Beijing has used law enforcement patrols and scientific study to boost its control over the contested South China Sea area.

videocam
9
Unlike most of the world’s blue holes – which were once caves on land – the newly discovered blue hole within the Scarborough Shoal was formed by a coral reef. Photo: Ministry of Ecology and Environment
Taiwan

PLA says it will stay on ‘high alert’ after Dutch warship crosses Taiwan Strait

Beijing says the De Ruyter had made the transit days after an ‘illegal intrusion’ into its airspace near the disputed Paracel Islands.

57
China-EU relations

Putin in Beijing, ‘China shock’ in EU: 7 global relations reads

From ‘miscalculation’ by the Dutch navy to China on Iran mediation, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in May 2026.

US-China relations

US and China hold ‘candid’ maritime military safety talks in Hawaii

Officials discussed ways to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations during encounters between their forces.

Beijing says US military patrols and exercises with allies in the South China Sea threaten regional stability. Photo: Reuters
China's military weapons

Is PLA’s response to Dutch warship ‘putting down a marker’ in South China Sea?

Chinese military has claimed for the first time that it used ‘electronic countermeasures’ when the frigate entered disputed waters.

The Dutch frigate De Ruyter was involved in the confrontation near the contested Paracel Islands. Photo: AFP
China’s coastguard

China slams ‘provocative acts’ after driving Dutch warship away from Paracels

PLA says it used electronic interference and warnings against Dutch frigate as tensions widen in South China Sea.

videocam
69
South China Sea

As allies boost Taiwan Strait transits, why is the US going a different route?

Chinese think tank notes the changing risks: ‘China will inevitably respond, and that makes the overall situation appear more tense’.

videocam
10
South China Sea

China, Vietnam vow to ‘better’ navigate South China Sea disputes

Joint communique indicates wish to keep maritime disputes from jeopardising ties and caps To Lam’s trip.

11
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) welcomes Vietnamese President To Lam to Beijing at a ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua via AP
South China Sea

Why military base on contested Paracels will be of ‘limited’ value to Beijing

Chinese observers weigh in amid rising concern over Beijing’s land reclamation activities at Antelope Reef.

videocam
10
Antelope Reef in the disputed Paracels is believed to be China’s most significant reclamation project in the strategic waters since it declared a halt to such activities about a decade ago. Photo: Handout
South China Sea

‘No dispute’: Beijing defends construction on Paracels in South China Sea

China says living conditions and local economy stand to benefit, days after Vietnam states opposition to land-reclamation activities.

11
South China Sea

Vietnam protests as China’s Paracels build-up escalates at Antelope Reef

Satellite images suggest accelerated dredging at the disputed South China Sea reef, sparking formal complaint from Hanoi.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China’s military drills

In joint patrols with China, Vietnam steers course between 2 powers

The Gulf of Tonkin will be the backdrop this week for naval activities despite a five-decade maritime dispute.

videocam
11
Vessels from Chinese and Vietnamese navies take part in a joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin in November last year. Photo: Xinhua
China-Asean relations

Will Paracels dispute overshadow China-Vietnam drive for closer strategic ties?

Foreign, defence and public security ministers are to meet after images suggested China had started land reclamation work at Antelope Reef.

14
South China Sea

What’s important about Antelope Reef in the South China Sea’s Paracel Islands?

Reports of extensive reclamation work on the once-submerged feature have prompted questions about its strategic value to Beijing.

videocam
South China Sea

Is Beijing stepping up island building in South China Sea after 10-year pause?

Satellite images suggest that extensive work is taking place at Antelope Reef, which is also claimed by Vietnam.

17
Satellite imagery suggests new sand dredging work has been taking place at Antelope Reef. Photo: European Union
South China Sea

Hainan official who helped build South China Sea reefs faces corruption probe

Xiao Jie’s detention is said to have shocked local officials given his lead role in running the Beijing-held islands in the disputed waters.

Official media credited Xiao with helping to “safeguard” the South China Sea and building facilities on the disputed reefs. Photo: Getty Images
South China Sea

Beijing looks for social workers for posts on disputed South China Sea islands

Job adverts for ‘community workers’ say military veterans and Communist Party members will be favoured for the positions.

5
South China Sea

China launches Woody Island fresh food link as disputed Paracels hub expands

Meat and produce to be supplied daily to Sansha supermarkets as Beijing bolsters infrastructure in contested South China Sea archipelago.

South China Sea

China opens shopping centre on Woody Island in disputed Paracels

6,000 square metre complex is latest Chinese civilian facility on South China Sea island after first hardware store and hotpot restaurant.

7
A packed fast-food restaurant at the Sansha City Commercial Centre as it opens for business on Thursday. Photo: QQ.com
South China Sea

Beijing launches historic preservation campaign to cement South China Sea claims

Conservation specialists repair monument on Woody Island in the disputed Paracel Islands, with more preservation work planned.

videocam
7
A conservation team has spent six days reinforcing a 1946 monument to mark China’s takeover of the Paracel Islands after World War II. Photo: Handout
South China Sea

China, Australia trade blame after PLA jet releases flares in mid-air encounter

PLA Air Force commander warns against ‘provocations’ after Poseidon maritime patrol plane driven away from Paracel Islands on Sunday.

82
South China Sea

Why Beijing’s new plan to bolster its South China Sea claims has Manila worried

Senior Philippine official calls Chinese announcement a pretext for ‘eventual occupation’ as analysts warn of higher tensions.

videocam
52
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement