This photo taken on Sept. 8, 2025 shows a view of the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Xu Hongyan)

The South China Sea Shipping Safety and Development Report (2025), compiled by a team of experts from Dalian Maritime University, was officially released on Friday.

As the world's first comprehensive study to systematically analyze the three major elements of South China Sea shipping—ports, routes, and cargo—using big data technology, the report presents for the first time an objective and complete picture of the operation of the South China Sea's shipping system. It provides an in-depth analysis of the sea's vital role in global trade and energy security, and elaborates on its strategic significance in global commerce and regional cooperation. 

The facts-based report rebukes the hype surrounding the so-called "threats to freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea, Chinese experts told the Global Times, noting that the report also reaffirms that China is a defender and contributor to peace and stability in this region.

The report focuses on three key aspects—ports, vessels, and critical strategic goods—and uses Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to systematically monitor and analyze ship activities in the South China Sea ports and waters.

The report shows that the South China Sea handles 40 percent of global vessels and serves as an important route for 34 percent of liquefied natural gas shipments and 40 percent of crude oil maritime transport. 

Data collected from 2024 indicate that vessels transited the South China Sea far surpassed shipping regions such as the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. The sea not only links major economic zones of China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, Australia, and Africa but also carries the bulk of China's energy imports and foreign trade cargo, highlighting how its stability is directly linked to the security of global supply chains.

The South China Sea hosts 29 major ports and 14 maritime routes, with shipping lanes connecting all major global trade regions, Jia Peng, executive editor of the report, told the Global Times, noting that the region ranks among the world's top in transshipment for containers, oil, and gas. Vessel density in South China Sea ports is 7.5 times that of the Caribbean, three times that of the Baltic Sea, and 1.5 times that of the Mediterranean, Jia added.

The report should be the world's first to use big data to systematically analyze the sea's maritime traffic, and it is objective, comprehensive, and innovative, Zhang Haiwen, former director of the Institute of Marine Development Strategy at the Ministry of Natural Resources and executive vice president of the China Society of Ocean Law, told the Global Times. 

Zhang noted that the report demonstrates that navigation in the region is free and that maritime safety is well ensured.

Regarding ports, the report shows that in 2024, Singapore led the South China Sea region in total port calls. Its annual number of calls far exceeded those of South China's Guangzhou and Shenzhen ports as well as major ASEAN ports.

Notably, the report uses big data to demonstrate the important civilian value of China's island and reef facilities. This is mainly reflected in the reduced response time for rescue operations at Yongshu Reef and Meiji Reef, making them a public asset for international maritime safety. 

This refutes the Western "freedom of navigation" narrative and provides empirical support for the concept of a "maritime community with a shared future," said Jia. 

The report shows that the region, as a major international shipping corridor, handles the transnational transport of bulk commodities such as oil, gas, minerals, and grain, connecting the world's primary production centers with major consumption markets.

In 2024, out of the global 1.513 billion tons of seaborne iron ore, China accounted for nearly 80 percent of imports. The smooth operation of South China Sea shipping routes is linked to the stability of the global steel supply chain, with any disruption likely to trigger sharp fluctuations in international iron ore prices, according to the report.

In terms of global economic impact, Kuang Haibo, the executive editor of the report, told the Global Times that the study finds the South China Sea to be a maritime "lifeline for essential goods," carrying a significant share of key bulk commodity shipments. With strong momentum in shipping development and growing global influence, it serves as an indispensable maritime artery supporting the operation of the global economy, said Kuang.

Ensuring the safety and smooth operation of the South China Sea shipping routes is fundamental to safeguarding the supply of global bulk commodities and maintaining market stability, Kuang said, noting that in the face of potential threats such as geopolitical risks and natural disasters, strengthening international cooperation and enhancing the management of shipping lanes and the protection of ports is a shared responsibility for maintaining global supply chain stability.