South China Sea · Full chronicle and history

Since October 12, the Chinese military has conducted live-fire shooting and military exercises in at least five sea areas, including the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea.

On September 27, the Chinese military held joint naval and air exercises around the disputed Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island, in the South China Sea.

Commercial satellite imagery provider Vantor released images showing new facilities near Linyang Reef in the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on August 17, sparking speculation about potential military use.

US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Paparo stated at a regional security conference in Kuala Lumpur that China and other actors are using claims of false legitimacy to justify acts of intimidation and coercion.

According to Chinese state media, China held sea and air joint communication exercises near Huangyan Island to test the coordination of maritime and aerial operations and rapid reinforcement capabilities.

The Philippines submitted formal navigational charts regarding Scarborough Shoal to the United Nations, outlining its claimed baseline and 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limits.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated at a regional security conference in Kuala Lumpur that Manila will continue to resist pressure exerted by China, vowing to resist and counter it.

The United States, Japan and the Philippines have concluded a five-day multilateral maritime cooperative joint exercise in the South China Sea.

Chinese coast guard vessels fired high-pressure water cannons at three Philippine government vessels delivering supplies to fishermen in waters near Scarborough Shoal, marking the third maritime confrontation between the two countries within a week.

A joint statement by 14 countries, including the United States and the Philippines, reaffirmed the finality and legally binding nature of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, and stated that China's expansive maritime claims have no legal basis.

The EU issued a statement recognizing the legally binding nature of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, and expressing concern over the escalating tensions and dangerous incidents in the South China Sea.

NATO Secretary General Rutte met with representatives of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, exchanging views on the Russia-Ukraine war, China's posture in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, and North Korea policy.

The Philippine military stated that at least three maritime standoffs occurred between China and the Philippines over disputed reefs in the South China Sea last month, one of which involved Chinese Coast Guard personnel injuring Philippine Navy personnel with batons.

Lawmakers from both US parties said that, amid tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, they would continue to support allies such as the Philippines and uphold international law and the right to navigate international waters.

On July 12, 2016, the arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration issued its ruling in China's absence, upholding nearly all of the Philippines' claims and rejecting the historical rights claims based on the nine-dash line.