《CONTEST FOR THE SOUTH CHINA SEA》

1 Introduction1

Geopolitical contexts2

Chinese seapower:historical-geographic contexts6

2 A Chinese lake9

Beginnings10

Sung China and the Southern Sea13

The Bank of Long Sands15

The Sea of Seven Islands17

The Cheng Ho voyages20

Conclusion:a Chinese lake22

3 The open sea31

Early Ch'ing maritime interests32

Geographic reconnaissance during the Ch'ing34

The Ch'ing navy:institutional and technological constraints40

Competition for the South China Sea:Annam and the French42

Empire lost:the Sino-French war 1884—545

Conclusion:the open sea46

4 A question of sovereignty51

The first Chinese claims52

The Ho Jui-nien affair55

The 1928 commission57

The Délégation des Paracels60

Japan's New South Archipelago(Shinnan Gunto)63

Conclusion:a question of sovereignty66

5 The post-war contest75

The ROC in the Paracels and Spratlys75

The San Francisco Peace Treaty(1951)77

The Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty(1952)79

The Cloma incident81

The islands and China's territorial sea86

Enter the Philippines89

The petroleum incentive91

Conclusion:the post-war contest92

6 Battle for the Paracels98

Prelude to war98

Battle in the Paracels100

The competitors react101

Aftermath107

Conclusion:battle for the Paracels110

7 China's ocean policy118

Chinese foreign policy118

China and the law of the sea120

Straits and the issue of accessibility122

The archipelagic regime125

The Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ)127

Marine research129

Conclusion:China's ocean policy130

8 The southern maritime frontier137

A vital strategic zone139

Chinese seapower142

The southern flank148

Conclusion:the southern maritime frontier150

Appendices154

A The scramble for offshore oil154

B The Kingdom of Humanity and Republic of Morac-Songhrati-Meads168

C Select bibliography173

D Abbreviations178

E Guide to place names180

F A basic gazetteer183

G Maps195

Index200