Preface Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 The Nansha Islands from Different Perspectives 1.1.1 The Natural Characteristics of the Nansha Islands 1.1.2 The Geopolitical and Geo-economical Meanings of the Nansha Islands 1.1.3 Regional Cultural Characteristics of the Nansha Islands 1.1.4 The Nansha Islands Were Discovered Early by China 1.1.5 The Nansha Islands from the Western Perspectives 1.2 Current Situation of the Occupied Islands of the Nansha Islands 1.2.1 Current Situation of Partial Islands that Have Been Seized by Vietnam 1.2.2 The Nansha Islands and Their Waters that Have Been Seized by the Philippines 1.2.3 Illegal Activities by Malaysia on the Nansha Islands and Their Waters Chapter 2 Applications of International Law Theories to the Dispute of the Nansha Islands 2.1 Territory Acquisition and Change in International Law 2.1.1 Territory Acquisition in International Law 2.1.2 Ways of Territorial Change in International Law 2.2 Ways of Territory Acquisition and Change Applied to the Nansha Islands Dispute 2.3 The Complexity of the Dispute of the Nansha Islands 2.3.1 The Categories of International Dispute 2.3.2 The Dispute of the Nansha Islands Is a Mixed Legal and Political Dispute Chapter 3 The Legal Meaning of Maps and the Applications in the Sovereignty Dispute of the Nansha Islands 3.1 The Legal Meaning of Maps 3.1.1 General Functions of Maps 3.1.2 Legal Functions of Maps 3.2 Maps of China and Abroad that Demonstrate the Nansha Islands Belong to China 3.2.1 The Chinese Government Reconfirmed the Evident Fact that the Nansha Islands Belong to China by Publishing Maps 3.2.2 Maps of the Parties Concerning the Disputes of the Nansha Islands Demonstrate the Nansha Islands Belong to China 3.2.3 Maps Published by Other States Acknowledge China's Sovereignty over the Nansha Islands 3.3 China Has Indisputable Sovereignty over the Nansha Islands from the Legal Functions of Maps Chapter 4 China's Claim for Rights over the Nansha Islands and Surrounding Sea Areas and Its Jurisprudential Grounds 4.1 China's Claim for Rights over the Nansha Islands and Surrounding Sea Areas 4.2 China Has Indisputable Sovereignty over the Nansha Islands According to Intertemporal International Law 4.2.1 Discussions and Resolutions of Intertemporal International Law 4.2.2 Cases Related to Intertemporal International Law 4.2.3 The Application of Intertemporal Law in the Sovereignty Dispute over the Nansha Islands 4.2.4 The Key Date and the Dispute on Sovereignty over the Nansha Islands 4.3 China Has the First Discovery Right over the Nansha Islands 4.3.1 Discussions on Discovery from Worldwide Authoritative Public International Law Scholars and State Practice 4.3.2 The Significance of Teachings of Worldwide Authoritative Publicists and State Practice on China's Discovery over the Nansha Island 4.4 China Has the Right of Preoccupation over the Nansha Islands 4.4.1 Rules on "Preoccupation" and "Effective Occupation" in International Law 4.4.2 Claims of Sovereignty 4.4.3 Incorporation of the Nansha Islands into Maps; Implementation of the Administrative Jurisdiction 4.4.4 Exploration, Management and Maritime Trade 4.4.5 Geng Lu Bu 4.4.6 Patrolling Activities of Chinese Navy in Each Dynasty (Since the Three Kingdoms Age) 4.4.7 Anti-Piracy Operation and Exercise of Jurisdiction 4.4.8 Protest against and Prevention of Illegal Activities of Foreign States in the Nansha Islands 4.5 China Determined Its Territorial Sovereignty over the Nansha Islands in the Form of "Dotted Boundary Lines" 4.5.1 The Generation and Evolution of "Dotted Boundary Lines" of the South China Sea 4.5.2 Legitimacy of the Government of the Republic of China's Demarcation through Dotted National Boundary Lines 4.5.3 Legal Status of "Dotted Lines" of the South China Sea 4.6 China Has "Historic Titles" over the Nansha Islands 4.6.1 "Historic Titles" in International Law 4.6.2 China's Historic Rights over the Nansha Islands 4.7 International Community's Recognition of China's Territorial Sovereignty over the Nansha Islands 4.7.1 The Recognition from International Treaties 4.7.2 The Recognition from Disputing Parties and Its Legal Significance 4.7.3 The Recognition from Other States Chapter 5 Claims and Defenses to the Nansha Islands by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei 5.1 Vietnam's Defenses and Claims to the Nansha Islands 5.2 The Philippines' Defenses and Claims to Partial Nansha Islands 5.3 Malaysia's and Brunei's Defenses and Claims to Partial Nansha Islands Chapter 6 Conclusion: China Has Indisputable Sovereignty and Sovereign Rights over the Nansha Islands and the Nearby Waters