Scholars reiterated China's historical claims to the islands in the South China Sea at a workshop in Haikou, Hainan province, on Tuesday, asserting that the country has held indisputable sovereignty over the territories since ancient times.
Wang Sheng, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said that successive Chinese governments have included the South China Sea islands in their maps and carried out sovereignty activities, such as astronomical surveys and military patrols. The actions are documented in local historical records, official maps and government archives spanning Chinese history.
"During the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-220 AD), the Chinese people commenced navigation in the South China Sea. Through long-term practical endeavors, they discovered and developed the South China Sea islands," Wang said, citing various historical documents and archaeological findings, including a manual of sea routes created by Chinese fishermen.
Wang also pointed to Western navigational documents, maps, nautical charts and national archives from modern times, which he said provide evidence of China's historical development, utilization and governance of the South China Sea islands.
However, Wang noted that in recent years, certain claimant countries around the South China Sea and external powers have distorted historical facts, selectively interpreted international law, and intentionally concealed the truth to deny China's sovereignty and rights in the region.
Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, emphasized the importance of historical context on the South China Sea issue. He called for a comprehensive and systematic study of the region's history, guided by factual evidence and the restoration of historical truths.
Wu stressed the need for interdisciplinary integration in advancing historical research on the South China Sea, particularly combining history and legal studies. He advocated a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating fields such as international relations, political science and oceanography, to make significant strides in understanding the South China Sea issue.
From 2011 to 2018, Anthony Carty, an Irish professor of international law and honorary visiting professor at Peking University's Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, examined archives from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the national archives of the United Kingdom and the United States.
Carty reported that archives from the UK, France and China collectively provide reliable historical and legal evidence supporting China's sovereignty over the South China Sea islands. He noted that both British and French records strongly support China's claims to the Xisha and Nansha Islands.
"The British archives support the Chinese claims to the Nansha Islands," Carty said. "They use primarily the evidence that the Chinese have treated the islands as part of their homeland, for fishing and economic activities, and for habitation."
French records affirm Chinese activities in the area and deny that any French activities made of the islands were on behalf of Vietnam, which was under French colonial rule, he added.
Carty also highlighted the geopolitical context surrounding the South China Sea issue, noting that US records indicate alignment with the French and British viewpoints.
"American records suggest that the Philippines, a key ally of the US, lacks legitimate claims to the disputed islands," he said. "This indicates that the US stance on Philippine claims forms part of a containment strategy against China."
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