ABSTRACT
Xisha and Nansha Islands in the South China Sea serve as hubs of transport between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean and therefore enjoy vital strategic significance. In the early 20th century, Japan and France invaded Xisha and Nansha for the control and mastery of the South China Sea. In their fight for sovereignty over these territories, the Chinese authorities and people have made great sacrifice and endeavors. In 1907, in response to Japanese government’s campaign of Going Fishing in the South, Miyazaki and other Japanese of Koyama Prefecture took the chance to head south and reached Nansha Islands, which were then touted as a fairly promising fishing ground, after they returned Japan. After the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japan stepped up its pace of invading Xisha and Nansha Islands as well as other Chinese territories. After occupying Hainan Island on February 28, 1939, Japan invaded Xisha and Nansha Islands on March 1 and 30 consecutively.
