A revised Chinese-English edition of a popular primer on the South China Sea issues was released early this month, according to its publisher. The 2026 edition of " What One Needs to Know About the South China Sea " was edited by Wu Shicun, a veteran maritime scholar who serves as chairman of the Huayang Center for Marine Research and founding president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

First published in 2011, the book is billed as the first popular-science reader on the South China Sea tailored for both domestic and international audiences. It has been updated twice over the past 16 years and has drawn praise from readers across China.

The book breaks down 20 key topics in a question-and-answer format, offering clear and accessible explanations on the historical, legal and geopolitical dimensions of the disputes. It also lays out China's policy positions and examines the forces shaping the current situation in the strategic waterway.

The publisher says the book aims to serve as both an authoritative guide for newcomers to the issue and a contribution to China's broader push to shape the narrative on the maritime disputes.