evidence: [edit]The People's Republic of China (PRC) claims are based on history and not UNCLOS.[17] However, the PRC still claims all of the Spratly Islands as part of China. The PRC is a party to the UNCLOS, signing the agreement on 29 July 1994. [...] Basis for the PRC's and the ROC's claims [edit]Chinese fishermen have fished around the islands since 200 BC.[18] China claims to have discovered the islands in the Han dynasty in 2 BC. The islands were claimed to have been marked on maps compiled during the time of Eastern Han dynasty and Eastern Wu (one of the Three Kingdoms). Since the Yuan dynasty in the 12th century, several islands that may be the Spratlys have been labelled as Chinese territory according to the Yuanshi, an official history commissioned by the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming dynasty in 1369.[19][20] This labeling has also occurred in the Qing dynasty from the 13th to 19th century;[21] the islands may have appeared on a 1755 map, among others.[21][22] French divers found remains of a 15th century Chinese galleon near the coast of Brunei, cited by Beijing as proof that ancient Chinese sailed these waters.[23]