22 Aug 2025

China's sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, known in English as the South China Sea islands, rests on solid legal foundations, including the principles of discovery and occupation, effective jurisdiction, estoppel, and other relevant international law principles governing territorial acquisition, according to a think tank report issued Thursday.

The report, titled "Historical and Legal Basis of China's Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights in the South China Sea," was released by Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with Xinhua News Agency.

China's earliest discovery and development of Nanhai Zhudao conform to the international law principle of "acquiring territorial sovereignty through discovery and occupation," according to the report.

China's sovereignty claims over Nanhai Zhudao have received broad international recognition, conforming to the international law principle of "estoppel," it adds.

China's claims to maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea conform to the international law principle of "land dominates sea" and China's historical rights in the South China Sea are protected by international law, the report notes.

This report is part of a series of three reports on the South China Sea issue released by Xinhua Institute. The other two are titled "Incitement, Threats, and Lies -- The Truth about External Forces Interfering in the South China Sea Issue," and "Making the South China Sea a Sea of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation: China's Actions."