Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

China has had long history of peacefully settling territorial disputes.  Recently, China and Vietnam resolved a clash of interests in the Beibu Gulf through talks and signing agreements.

The Beibu Gulf is a half-closed bay surrounded by Chinese and Vietnamese territory. It is also a traditional fishing area for both countries. During the 1990s, there were a number of confrontations between Vietnamese and Chinese fishermen in the region. But in 2000, China and Vietnam ended the conflict peacefully, through a number of boundary and fishing cooperation agreements. In 2015, China and Vietnam also launched a program for joint inspection of the waters outside the Beibu Gulf -- marking an important beginning for maritime cooperation between China and Vietnam.

China and Russia have also settled a number of their territorial disputes through dialogue and treaties. In 2001, the two countries signed a Treaty of Good-neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation -- which settled disputes over territory in Vladivostok. In 2005, China and Russia also signed a final agreement to demarcate their eastern borders.