The South China Sea disputes have generated considerable tensions among several sovereign states within the region. In the past few years, the most significant event was “the South China Sea Arbitration (Philippines v. China)” proposed by the Philippines. During the arbitration process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (R.O.C., Taiwan) issued official statements many times, which were based on historical documents and current administrative reality, to strongly claim the sovereignty over some islands in the South China Sea. Besides, on May 26, 2015, President Ma Ying-jeou also proposed the “South China Sea Peace Initiative” to assert the R.O.C.’s sovereignty over some islands in the South China Sea.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague issued its ruling that “seriously undermined” the R.O.C.’s maritime rights in the South China Sea. Under this unfavorable situation, President Tsai Ing-wen expressed a statement that “the ruling is completely unacceptable and has no legally binding force on the R.O.C.”

The government of the R.O.C. has always remained firm in its position to emphasize and protect the sovereignty over some islands in the South China Sea. In response to the government’s actions, the academia should pay more attention to this issue and persuade the world of the R.O.C’s sovereignty by historical evidence and administrative reality. One of the best scholars in this filed is Professor Chi Tang. Professor Tang has devoted to studying the South China Sea disputes for more than 20 years and published two compilations of historical materials to prove the R.O.C’s sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea. Therefore, on November 29, the Humanities Research Center will invite Professor Tang to give a lecture on this issue. With solid research and archival evidence, Professor Tang will analyze the origin and development of the South China Sea disputes. We look forwards to your participation.