Claims of Ownership over the Xisha (Paracel) Islands and the Nansha (Spratly) Islands in Chinese Historiography in the Late Qing Dynasty (1840-1912): The Beginning of the South China Sea Dispute
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Abstract
Vital areas in terms of marine resources and the cause of geopolitical conflict, the Xisha and Nansha islands have been the focal point for disputes involving China, Japan, and Western powers dating back to the late Qing dynasty (1840-1912). For this reason, this article aims to study the claims of ownership over the Xisha Islands and the Nansha Islands in Chinese historiography. The historical approach was employed. Chinese evidence, namely the official history books, the local chronicles and the map of the Qing dynasty, was analyzed. The study results revealed that Chinese historiography of the late Qing dynasty can be divided into Three categories: (1) the official history books, the records of sending government officials to survey the Islands and providing opportunities for merchants to invest in the establishment of factories to make use of the Islands’ resources; (2) the Chinese local chronicles writing about the Xisha Islands and Nansha Islands that they were in Chinese territory and regularly monitored by the Qing navy; and (3) mapping in the late Qing dynasty inspired by western method making markers on a map to indicate that the Xisha Islands and the Nansha Islands were administrative regions of Guangdong Province. In terms of academic recommendations, the documents of the parties having disputes with China should be studied to add different perspectives.
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