View source for South China Sea

{{Infobox Chinese
|pic=South China Sea.jpg
|piccap=A map of the South China Sea
|showflag=p
|t=南中國海
|s=南中国海
|p=Nán Zhōnggúo Hǎi
|j=naam4 zong1 gwok3 hoi2
|tgl= Timog Dagat Tsina ('Dagat Kanlurang Pilipinas', meaning "West Philippine Sea", for the portion within Philippine waters)
|por=Mar da China Meridional
|vie=Biển Đông
|msa=Laut China Selatan
}}

The '''South China Sea''' is an [[ocean]] [[region]] in the south of [[China]]. It is a part of the [[Pacific Ocean]].

The sea and its islands and [[reef]]s are claimed by many nations, including [[China]], [[Vietnam]], the [[Philippines]], [[Malaysia]] and [[Brunei]].<ref>[http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/north-east-asia/229-stirring-up-the-south-china-sea-ii-regional-responses  "Stirring up the South China Sea (II): Regional Responses,"] ''Asia Report N°229,'' 24 July 2012; retrieved 2013-4-17.</ref> These claims are [[Wikt:mirror|mirrored]] in the many names used for the islands and the sea.

== Geography ==
The South China Sea runs from [[Singapore]] to the [[Taiwan Strait]] The sea has an area of around 3,500,000&nbsp;km². It is located in the western arm of the Pacific Ocean 

It is one of the largest [[seas]] after the five [[oceans]]. There are hundreds of small [[South China Sea Islands]].  As a group, these islands are called an [[archipelago]]. 

Some of the bigger islands have people living on them. They are [[inhabited]].  Most of the islands are small and [[uninhabited]].

==Related pages ==
* [[Paracel Islands]]
* [[Spratly Islands]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Other websites==
* [http://www.bjreview.com.cn/Cover_Stories_Series_2012/2012-07/03/content_464506.htm  "China's Jurisdiction over the South China Sea,"] ''[[Beijing Review]]'', July 3, 2012 

{{coor title dm|12|11|N|113|13|E|type:waterbody}}


{{Asia-stub}}

[[Category:Geography of China]]
[[Category:Seas of the Pacific Ocean]]