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Paracel Islands

Fishermen pulling their net on Vietnam’s offshore Ly Son island close to the disputed Paracel archipelago in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

South China Sea: tensions over Beijing’s continued detention of Vietnam fishermen

While China claims the fishermen were illegally fishing in its waters, Vietnam insists they were operating within their rights.

8 Nov 2024 - 6:42PMvideocam

South China Sea: how does Philippines’ coastguard measure up against others?

31 Oct 2024 - 3:24PMvideocam

Vietnam trip offers Chinese premier chance to mend ties after fishermen ‘attack’

11 Oct 2024 - 10:45PMvideocam

Declassified Chinese operation sheds light on doomed US submarine incident

Newly released data from a giant whirlpool near the Paracel Islands could give fresh clues about a major US Navy incident.

11 Oct 2024 - 10:45AM

The Seawolf-class attack submarine USS Connecticut was severely damaged in a surprise collision in 2021. Now newly released data on a giant whirlpool in the same area could offer fresh clues to what may have caused the incident. Photo: US Navy

Is China downplaying ‘restrained’ clash with fishermen near Paracel Islands?

Vietnam says Chinese personnel boarded a local fishing boat on Sunday and beat the crew with iron bars, seriously injuring four of them.

3 Oct 2024 - 9:33PMvideocam

Explainer | Who is winning the fight for the South China Sea’s resources?

Claimants are competing for fish, oil and gas amid unresolved maritime boundaries and differing interpretations of law.

1 Oct 2024 - 9:00AMvideocam

As South China Sea stakes ratchet ever higher, Vietnam seeks out calmer waters

Hanoi’s new leadership is doubling down on ‘bamboo diplomacy’ to navigate choppy geopolitical currents and protect economic gains.

25 Aug 2024 - 2:41PMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Vietnam’s To Lam after a signing ceremony in Beijing on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

China confirms discovery of major natural gas field in South China Sea

The location, in waters southeast of Hainan, is estimated to contain more than 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas.

10 Aug 2024 - 5:35AMvideocam

Beijing opens hardware store on South China Sea’s disputed Woody Island

The new shop in the Paracel Islands is part of China’s push to expand civilian facilities and cement territorial claims in contested waters.

3 Aug 2024 - 7:35PMvideocam

How is China’s ‘maritime militia’ supporting the PLA in the South China Sea?

Hundreds of fishing vessels used as auxiliary forces are ‘floating pieces of sovereignty’ that help the PLA with surveillance, reclamation support and disaster relief.

5 Aug 2024 - 11:50AMvideocam

PLA deploys nation’s biggest hospital ship to contested South China Sea

Silk Road Ark, China’s biggest hospital ship, is on its maiden voyage, with hopes it will ‘better serve operational demand and battle readiness’.

16 Jul 2024 - 4:39PMvideocam

The Silk Road Ark, China’s newest and biggest hospital ship, made its public debut on Wednesday as it left Zhanjiang for the islands and reefs in Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands to provide medical services. Photo: Weibo/央广军事

Beijing exploiting talks to assert control over South China Sea: analysts

Analysts argue Beijing’s negotiations with the Philippines are being exploited to normalise China’s control over contested territory.

9 Jul 2024 - 10:52AMvideocam

Writing of South China Sea rule book delayed by lack of trust: maritime expert

Wu Shicun, founding president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, is pessimistic about progress of South China Sea Code of Conduct.

2 Apr 2024 - 3:28PMvideocam

China has drawn its line in the Gulf of Tonkin. Is the South China Sea next?

Beijing has released a series of points to define its waters along its southern coast, which some observers say extends its maritime area.

19 Mar 2024 - 11:00PMvideocam

The PLA conducts live-fire drills in the Gulf of Tonkin, also known as Beibu Gulf in 2021. Photo: Weibo

China urged to save coral reefs in Asian waters amid huge demand for giant clams

The clams are highly sought after by China’s jewellery carving industry as a result of curbs on ivory trading.

14 Mar 2024 - 4:30PMvideocam

Philippine coastguard personnel inspecting seized giant clam shells in Roxas town, Palawan province on April 16, 2021. Photo: AFP

Beijing rebukes Washington after warning off US warship in South China Sea

PLA command calls United States the ‘biggest disrupter of peace’ in the region, accusing it of ‘illegally’ entering waters near contested islands in first encounter in the area since leaders Xi Jinping and Joe Biden met in effort to manage tensions.

27 Nov 2023 - 11:25AMvideocam

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‘Malicious, provocative’: China slams Canada over South China Sea mid-air encounter

Response from Beijing comes after Ottawa accused PLA jets of ‘significantly unsafe’ action in buzzing a Canadian military helicopter ‘in international airspace’.

5 Nov 2023 - 6:00PMvideocam

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Beijing appears to be building runway on disputed South China Sea island

In latest sign of Chinese military development in contested waters, satellite images show new airstrip stretching across Triton Island in the Paracels, but Hanoi and Taipei say the archipelago is theirs.

17 Aug 2023 - 8:54PMvideocam

In addition to the airstrip, China appears to be constructing a new building on Triton Island, according to satellite images. Photo: Planet Labs PBC via AP

Opinion | Code of conduct should not focus on resolving South China Sea disputes

There are good reasons to leave states to resolve things bilaterally. Instead, the code should bind China and Asean into good behaviours: respecting the status quo and refraining from military activity.

14 Jul 2023 - 2:03AMvideocam

China, Vietnam reaffirm pledge on South China Sea ‘code of conduct’

Pledges on ‘guiding the settlement of sea-related issues’ follow high-profile visit to China by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

30 Jun 2023 - 11:46PMvideocam

China sends new patrol ship Haixun 03 on South China Sea mission

The vessel arrived at Woody Island on Sunday and will carry out various inspection tasks in the waters.

13 Jun 2023 - 9:00AM

The Haixun 03 was launched in 2021 and went into service last year. Photo: CCTV Weibo

What message does China defence chief have for Shangri-La Dialogue?

Chinese delegates for years have robustly fended off criticism at the forum from neighbouring countries and Western governments.

2 Jun 2023 - 6:57AMvideocam

Chinese ships ignore Vietnam demand to leave area near Russian-run gas fields

The vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 began operating in the EE zone on May 7 – the most significant incursion since 2019 – but China claims its activity is ‘legitimate and lawful’.

27 May 2023 - 6:39AM

Opinion | South China Sea: Asean needs to compromise with China on code of conduct

After 20 years of negotiations and growing flare-ups in the disputed waters, the delay has produced more mistrust and arguably benefited powerful parties. Compromise may be the only realistic way for Asean claimants to harvest their resources without Chinese interference.

11 Apr 2023 - 11:53AMvideocam

South China Sea: Malaysia vows to protect its rights in disputed waters as China voices concerns

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says China is worried about activity by the state energy firm Petronas in a part of the South China Sea that Malaysia says is its territory, but that it is ‘unequivocally and firmly committed to protecting … sovereignty, rights and interests in its maritime areas’.

8 Apr 2023 - 5:07PM

A Chinese coastguard vessel in the South China Sea. Photo: Reuters

South China Sea: Hainan extends rescue reach with bigger patrol ship

The Haixun 03 will enable safety authorities to support services stationed 1,200km away on Subi Reef, analyst says.

30 Mar 2023 - 9:00PM

The Haixun 03 has a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles. Photo: Weibo

‘Not expelled’: US Navy rejects PLA claims of ‘illegal’ South China Sea passage

Chinese sea and air forces monitored and issued warnings to drive away the USS Milius, PLA Southern Theatre Command says.

23 Mar 2023 - 7:00PM

Opinion | McCarthy visit? How Beijing can nip the next Taiwan crisis in the bud

Rather than repeat the military drills sparked by Nancy Pelosi’s visit, Beijing can make official the baselines of Taiwan’s territorial waters, clarifying the scope of China’s sovereignty – and preventing sleepwalking into war.

29 Dec 2022 - 1:49AMvideocam

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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.

last updated:

24 August, 2024