Official Announcements of China and the Philippines have clarified their claims over the Huangyan Island, which has compartmentalized its history into three periods. Period I: Before 1946. China had acquired its title by discovery of terra nullius, and consolidated into a full title with the historical consolidation process. The Philippines made no claims in this period; instead its laws confirmed the Island lies out of its territory. Period II: 1946–1997. The Philippine evidences are private in nature, or contradictory to its laws and governmental position, thus making its claims vulnerable. China had exercised an open and peaceful effective occupation over the Island with superior evidences. Period III: After 1997. According to the ICJ judgment, April 30, 1997 was tentatively determined the critical date. Since China acquired its territorial sovereignty over the Island before the critical date, the Philippines’ acts cannot alter China’s ownership of the Island.

Legal Basis of China’s Claim over the Huangyan Island
  1. Introduction
  2. Claims of China and the Philippines
  3. The Sovereignty of the Huangyan Island
  4. Conclusion

• Ran Guo(Lecturer at East China Normal University, Shanghai, China)