取自政府报告：Since the 1970s, some countries have tried to lay claim on the natural resources in the South China Sea. It was then that some nations began to make territorial claims. Vietnam and Philippines sent troops and illegally occupied some of the islands. That is how the disputes started. Up till today, Vietnam has occupied 29 islands, Philippines eight and Malaysia five.

从上世纪70年代开始，一些南海周边国家由于觊觎南海的丰富自然资源，开始对中国南沙岛礁提出领土要求。越南、菲律宾等国先后派兵非法侵占了南沙部分岛礁，南海问题就此产生。迄今为止，越南共侵占29个岛礁，菲律宾共侵占8个岛礁，马来西亚共侵占5个岛礁。