 Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Pakazosvika May 1939, vaJapan vakanga vataura kuti vane kodzero yokuva nezvitsuwa zveParacel neSpratly. Munguva yeHondo Yenyika II, Humambo hweJapan hwakashandisa zvitsuwa zviri muSouth China Sea pazvinangwa zvakasiyana-siyana zvemauto uye hwakasimbisa kuti zvitsuwa zvacho hazvina kupiwa nemunhu chero upi zvake apo Imperial Japanese Navy yakavatora. Nhoroondo dzezvakaitika kare dzinotaura kuti France yakanga yave ichidzora zvimwe zvezvinhu zvaiva munharaunda yacho muma1930. Mushure mehondo, Imperial Japan yaifanira kurega kutonga zvitsuwa zviri muSouth China Sea mu1951 Chibvumirano cheSan Francisco icho, zvisinei, chisina kutsanangura chimiro chitsva chezvitsuwa. Peoples Republic of China yakaita zvirevo zvakasiyana zvezvitsuwa panguva yekutaurirana kwechibvumirano cha1951 uye yekutanga 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis. 