South China Sea Disputes and Maritime Strategy (1992–present)

1. PRC passes Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone Law

   Feb 25, 1992Labels: PRC Law

   • ChinaDaily Law

2. PRC enacts EEZ and Continental Shelf Law

   Jun 26, 1998Labels: EEZ Law

   • MOA China

3. China–ASEAN sign South China Sea DOC

   Nov 4, 2002Labels: Declaration on

   • WorldJpn Text

4. China submits nine-dash line map to UN

   May 7, 2009Labels: Nine-dash Map

   • Wikimedia PDF

5. Scarborough Shoal standoff begins

   Apr 8, 2012Labels: Scarborough Shoal

   • Scarborough Standoff

6. China establishes Sansha City administration

   Jul 17, 2012Labels: Sansha City

   • CSIS AMTI

7. Philippines initiates UNCLOS arbitration vs China

   Jan 22, 2013Labels: Philippine Arbitration

   • PH DFA

8. China authorizes creation of unified coast guard

   Mar 1, 2013Labels: China Coast

   • Jamestown

9. Large-scale Spratly land reclamation accelerates

   Jan 1, 2014Labels: Spratly Reclamation

   • Fiery Cross

10. Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil-rig crisis with Vietnam

    May 2, 2014Labels: Haiyang Shiyou

    • Rig Standoff

11. Tribunal issues jurisdiction and admissibility award

    Oct 29, 2015Labels: Jurisdiction Award

    • PCA Awards

12. PCA issues South China Sea arbitration final award

    Jul 12, 2016Labels: Final Award

    • PCA Awards

13. China and ASEAN agree single draft COC text

    Aug 2, 2018Labels: COC Draft

    • PRC MFA

14. China Coast Guard Law enters into force

    Feb 1, 2021Labels: Coast Guard

    • CCG Law

15. Massed Chinese vessels appear at Whitsun Reef

    Mar 7, 2021Labels: Whitsun Reef

    • Guardian

16. China issues 2023 “standard map” with ten-dash line

    Aug 28, 2023Labels: 2023 Standard

    • Japan CAS

17. Violent resupply clash at Second Thomas Shoal

    Jun 17, 2024Labels: Second Thomas

    • AP