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Fishery resources play an important role in the national economy and ecological diversity in China; it is of great significance to evaluate and rationally exploit the fishery resources. Most fisheries off the coast of China are data-limited, as the complex assessment models are not suitable for its resource assessment. Therefore, data-limited models for fishery resources assessment in China are among the current research hotspots. In this paper, two new data-limited assessment models (Bayesian state–space implementation of the Schaefer production model (BSM) and Monte Carlo MSY estimation model (CMSY)) were used to evaluate the fishery resources of Scomber japonicus and Muraenesox cinereus in the East China Sea. The results showed that the estimated value of MSY of S. japonicus was 220 × 103 t to 240 × 103 t, the estimated value of F/FMSY was greater than one, and the estimated value of B/BMSY was very close to one, indicating that the fishery in the East China Sea had been overfished. The estimated value of MSY for the M. cinereus fishery in the East China Sea ranged from 140 × 103 t to 170 × 103 t. The estimated value of F/FMSY at the biological reference point was greater than one and the estimated value of B/BMSY was less than one, indicating that the fishery had been overfished and resources had declined. Both models can be used for data-limited fisheries offshore of China. To better understand the impact of uncertainty on fishery resource assessment, more research should be carried out on these two data-limited assessment models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper challenges the notion that Chinese maritime coercion in the East and South China Seas (ESCS) is best described as a grey zone strategy. The 'grey zone' notion raises two issues. Conceptually, it adds little to the existing literature on maritime coercion. Practically, it creates confusion over the understanding of maritime coercion by blurring the distinction between military and constabulary activities. The paper articulates this difference to elucidate the functional correlation between Beijing's strategic objectives and maritime claims. Within this context, the grey zone construct is particularly problematic since it uncritically assumes that the use of force is designed to remain below the threshold of war. By contrast, the paper argues that Chinese maritime claims to control 'rights and interests' are a function of a broader strategic intention to project military power within and beyond the confines of the ESCS, whilst preventing others to do the same. Thus, Chinese maritime coercion (military and constabulary) increases strategic competition and the risk of war, and is therefore better described as part of a 'hybrid' strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased territorial conflicts in the center of the maritime South and East China Seas have ramifications for Asian regional stability. The area is resource-rich, strategically placed along waterways, and has indisputable oil and natural gas reserves. There had also been a perceived change in the international system built by the United States during World War II, with China attempting to replace it as the regional power. China's behavior toward the remaining claimants, as well as to some extent toward other foreign parties in the conflicts, is examined using ideas from International Relations and case studies from International Law. Employing a qualitative research design, the author attempted to analyze the territorial dispute in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. This paper explains how the islands are strategically located near commercial fishing grounds, major shipping channels, and undiscovered oil and gas potential and how the issue is linked to China's preservation of national sovereignty, while the remaining claimant states perceive it as an incursion by the approaching menace of China. Whoever gains control of the islands eventually gains control of a major portion of East China and South China Seas' economic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the four main military strategies of the People's Republic of China towards the security architecture of East and South China Sea under President Xi Jinping. These strategies cover a region that has been under the US alliance system's security umbrella since the Cold War. This paper demonstrates that the People's Republic of China, under the current leadership, seeks to reorder the regional security architecture to its favour by leveraging military modernisation, influence operations and diplomatic-economic power to remove the influence of the US and its allies over the East and South China Sea. The present study argues that the successful conclusion of the rising power's strategies over the East and South China Sea will translate the current geopolitical rivalry into a power transition to the detriment of the established power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the development of a radionuclide dispersion model for the nuclear power plants in the Bohai, Yellow, and East China seas (BYECS) characterized by high turbidity and multi-scale circulations, focusing on the comparison of dispersion processes of 137Cs depending upon, in particular, the suspended sediment concentration and erosion/sedimentation processes. The simulations were carried out using a multi-fraction sediment transport model embedded in the semi-implicit Eulerian–Lagrangian finite-element coupled wave-circulation model linked with the model of radionuclide transport, which describes the key radionuclide transfer processes in the system of water–multi-fraction sediments. In contrast to the Eulerian models used for hydrodynamics and sediment transport processes, the Lagrangian technique was applied to simulate the transport of radionuclides. The simulation results for total suspended concentration agreed with in situ measurements and the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager data. The results of the simulation of hypothetical releases of 137Cs from four nuclear power plants (NPPs) placed in BYECS essentially differ from the real release of activity in the Pacific Ocean shelf due to the Fukushima Daiichi accident, which took place at the same time and released activity that was similar. The total amount of bottom contamination of 137Cs in releases from the Sanmen, Hanbit, and Hongyanhe NPPs was about 40% of dissolved component, and the total amount of suspended component was about 20% of dissolved component, in contrast with the Fukushima Daiichi accident, where the particulate component was only 2%. The results demonstrate the importance of erosion processes in the budget of 137Cs in shallow areas around the Sanmen and Hanbit NPPs, where strong wind and tidal currents took place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal offshore currents transport terrestrial materials from coastal areas to continental shelf areas in the upper layer; these currents are regarded as unimportant in winter when wind‐driven onshore currents are dominant. In this paper, both long‐term observations and high‐resolution simulations in the East China Sea reveal unique wintertime offshore currents in the upper layer that are widespread in the 30–70‐m isobath area and even overcome the wind‐driven onshore currents at the 50–70‐m isobaths. The mixed layer instabilities, frontogenesis and turbulent thermal wind, which constitute a mechanism in the generation of submesoscale offshore currents, have a growth rate that is fast enough to compete with the wind‐driven dynamics when the winter monsoon is relatively weak (<10 m/s). The alternation of the weak‐wind and strong‐wind modes during the winter monsoons provides a general condition for the repeated occurrence of remarkable submesoscale cross‐shore transport and carbon sequestration in coastal seas. Plain Language Summary: The mechanism by which wintertime cross‐shore currents occur in coastal seas is re‐examined together with wind‐driven mesoscale currents and submesoscale processes. Submesoscale currents, which is shaped like filaments or eddies with a horizontal scale of approximately O(1) km, have frequently been reported in the upper ocean. These submesoscale currents are dynamically defined by conditions where the relative vertical vorticity equals or exceeds the planetary vorticity, where the Rossby number is O(1). Both long‐term observations and high‐resolution simulations in the East China Sea reveal unique wintertime offshore currents in the upper layer that can prevail over wind‐driven onshore currents. The synoptic winter monsoons provide the general conditions for the repeated occurrence of remarkable submesoscale cross‐shore transport and carbon sequestration in coastal seas. Key Points: Significant wintertime offshore currents that overcome wind‐driven onshore currents are investigated in the East China SeaThe submesoscale dynamics are fast enough to compete with the wind‐driven dynamicsThe synoptic winter monsoon provides a general condition for submesoscale cross‐shore events in coastal seas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Quarterly is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Much has been made over the past few years of China'vs ambitions of regaining control of its irredentist claims in the East and South China Seas. While some of this speculation focuses on the massive amounts of money the People's Republic of China (PRC) has funneled into its naval modernization program, other analysts are more interested in the drivers behind the increasingly popular sentiment that the country must “reclaim” its lost territories. The Chinese Communist Party can ill afford to ignore the voice of an already disenchanted population if it hopes to stay in power, particularly in regard to matters of national pride. As a result, in dealing with China's irredentist claims, nationalism in particular can be a powerful ideological factor in shaping the nation's foreign policies. This is especially apparent in the case of irredentism, where nationalism can often override diplomatic and strategic imperatives. This paper addresses the question of how does the nationalist discourse vary between two territorial disputes, the East and South China Seas. It uses discourse analysis to examine developing trends among online social media and news sites. This in turn allows for the construction of a framework of how nationalism develops among both elite and grassroots audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Simple Summary: Monitoring microplastics (MPs) in cetaceans is challenging due to difficulties in obtaining samples, especially for endangered species. In this study, we characterized MPs ingested in nine individuals of four cetacean species stranded along the western coast of the Taiwan Strait including not only small coastal dolphins but also large pelagic and deep-diving cetaceans. A total intestine length of 123.2 m was analyzed, and the color, shape, size, and polymer types of MPs were then identified. The mean abundance of MPs was 86.44 ± 12.22 items individual−1, which was slightly higher compared with the same species from other waters worldwide. Moreover, a strong significant relationship between MPs abundance and intestine contents mass was identified. Transparent, fibrous MPs made from PET and PP were found to be predominant in the present study, indicating that the primary MPs source is from municipal and industrial sewage from clothing production and industry as well as from fisheries and aquaculture. Our study provides more information about the MPs pollution of endangered species in the western Taiwan Strait. It highlights the further risk assessment of MPs consumption in these threatened species. Microplastics (MPs) pollution is of global concern, which poses serious threats to various marine organisms, including many threatened apex predators. In this study, MPs were investigated from nine cetaceans of four different species, comprising one common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), two pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), one ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens), and five Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) stranded along the western coast of the Taiwan Strait from the East China Sea based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. Mean abundances of 778 identified MPs items were 86.44 ± 12.22 items individual−1 and 0.43 ± 0.19 items g−1 wet weight of intestine contents, which were found predominantly to be transparent, fiber-shaped polyethylene terephthalate (PET) items usually between 0.5 and 5 mm. The abundance of MPs was found at a slightly higher level and significantly correlated with intestine contents mass (p = 0.0004*). The MPs source was mainly likely from synthetic fibers-laden sewage discharged from intense textile industries. Our report represents the first study of MPs in pelagic and deep-diving cetaceans in China, which not only adds baseline data on MPs for cetaceans in Asian waters but also highlights the further risk assessment of MPs consumption in these threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatiotemporal information is crucial for cetacean research and conservation, particularly for wide-ranging and migratory species. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are distributed worldwide in deep oceans; however, little is known about the species in the western margin of the Pacific Ocean. Here, we examined the available information related to the occurrence, distribution, and potential habitats of sperm whales in the waters off China. Historical whaling information (18th-20th century) indicates that sperm whales have been captured in the East China Sea (ECS) and South China Sea (SCS). Furthermore, sporadic strandings have been recorded since the 1910s, and more frequently from 1990 onwards. Since 1990, accidental sightings have been documented in the eastern ECS, northeastern and southern SCS, and their adjacent waters. More recently (2019-2022), field encounters have been reported in dedicated ship-based investigations in the Xisha and Nansha waters, providing robust evidence of the regular existence and potential residency of sperm whales in the northwestern and central areas of the SCS. Female nursery groups suggest that the Xisha waters might be an important nursing ground for sperm whales. Satellite tracking data from four adults showed that sperm whales in the SCS might display both fine-scale and long-distance movements. Taken together, it appears that sperm whales are currently active in the waters off China, and that deep waters (depth >200 m) in the ECS and SCS may provide the species with critical habitats. This review provides crucial baseline information on sperm whales in the waters off China, which may help to facilitate future research efforts and conservation initiatives for the species at national and cross-regional scales. More field investigations and other monitoring approaches including acoustic monitoring, biologging, photo-identification, and genetics are required to reveal the distribution, movement, and habitat use patterns of sperm whales in these waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larimichthys polyactis, a typically oceanodromous species found across the East China, Yellow, and Bohai Seas, is one of the most ecologically and commercially important species in East Asian countries. Moreover, over the past decades, L. polyactis has experienced significant changes in its biological characteristics under long-term intensive fishing pressure, suggesting a need for urgent protection. A robust understanding of connectivity at the spatiotemporal scale is critical for the effective and thorough management of L. polyactis. In the present study, the otolith stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope ratios of four adult L. polyactis groups (Y-1–4) sampled in the southern Yellow and East China Seas (SYS and ECS) were determined at multiple life stages, including the larval dispersal period (core), overwintering period (A1), and one whole life cycle except the post-spawning period (A2). Dunn's multiple comparison test showed that there was no difference among the Y-1, Y-2, and Y-3 groups in the otolith core and A1 zones (p > 0.05); the otolith δ13C and δ18O of the Y-4 group were significantly higher than those of the Y-3 group (p < 0.05) in the three analysed zones. In the otolith A2 zone, δ13C and δ18O of the Y-1 group were significantly higher than those of the Y-3 group (p < 0.05). Combined with the biplot of otolith δ13C and δ18O, the quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) of the otolith core, A1 and A2 zones showed that: (1) in the otolith core zone, two dominant larval aggregations occurred, likely distributed in the coastal waters of northern Lvsi and Haizhou Bay fishing grounds (Y-4 and part Y-1/2 groups) and Zhoushan and southern Yangtze Estuary fishing grounds (Y-3 and part Y-1/2); (2) in the otolith A1 zone, two clear aggregations were separated by Y-4 and Y-1/2/3, suggesting two dominant groups overwintering in the SYS and ECS, respectively; and (3) in the otolith A2 zone, two dominant aggregations were separated by Y-4/1 and Y-2/3. In addition to the long-term larval dispersal process, the migratory route between spawning and overwintering grounds may be diverse, explaining the non-significant genetic differentiation of L. polyactis from different groups. Combining these results with those of previous studies on the life history of L. polyactis, a schematic map of the migratory routes is depicted providing important references for effective resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The source to sink process of terrigenous sediment from East Asia continent to the marginal seas is crucial for the understanding of land–ocean interaction and marine sedimentary process in the West Pacific continental margin. This paper presents element geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic records of core CM97 in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and core MD06–3040 on the inner shelf of East China Sea, aiming to reconstruct the Changjiang sediment source–to–sink transport process and its major controlling mechanism during the Holocene. Driven by the asynchronous evolution of the Indian and East Asian summer monsoon, the provenance of sediments accumulated in the Changjiang Estuary gradually changed from the upper catchment during the late glacial period to the mid–lower valley in the early–mid Holocene. With the intensive agricultural cultivation and urbanization development in the catchment during the late Holocene, the major source of Changjiang sediment into the sea shifted back to the upper catchment, again. The high–frequency ENSO activity may superimpose the effect of human disturbances on sediment source–to–sink process in the late Holocene. Therefore, the Holocene provenance evolution of Changjiang sediments in the East China Sea witnessed the changes of governing sediment erosion process within a large catchment from monsoon climate–dominated to anthropogenic driving. Our study also suggests the strong effect of hydrodynamics in coastal and shelf environments on sedimentary geochemical compositions, which deserves more attention in further sediment provenance study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we applied the re-analysis data cobe-SST (cobe-sea surface temperature) and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) surface soil moisture (SM) data from 1961 to 2011 by using regional correlation analysis and time series causality analysis to trace annual variations in and identify the abnormal relationship of sea surface temperature (SST) in the eastern China Sea and SM in eastern China (EC). We also used satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) SST and AMSR-E SM data to examine the correlation of SST and SM in EC from 2004–2009. The results show that the SST in the eastern China Sea has experienced a warming trend since 1987, whereas the SM in EC has shown a drying trend since 1978. Before 1967 and after 1997, SST and SM changed during opposite phases, whereas from 1967 to 1997 they changed during the same phase. The differences between them may result from the abnormal summer precipitation causing abnormal SM. According to the regional correlation analysis, SST of the East China Sea is significantly related to SM in the southeast coastal area, and temporal sequence causality analysis shows that SST is correlated with and has higher influence on SM than vice versa. SM during spring and autumn shows a similar correlation with SST during the four seasons, so that SM in spring and autumn is positively correlated with SST in autumn and negatively correlated with SST in other seasons. SM in summer and winter correlated with SST in the four seasons, contradicting the foregoing conclusions. All these findings indicate that the thermodynamic state of the eastern China Sea has affected SM in EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reviewed the published papers and employed the guideline values of USEPA (ERL and ERM) and China (MSQ, Class I, II, III) to assess the contamination status of potential toxic metals in East China Sea sediment (ECS). The percentages of metal concentrations exceeding the ERL value follow the sequences: Ni (96%) > As(71%) > Cr(53%) > Cu (19%) > Zn (2.4%) > Hg (0.5%) > Pb (0.4%) > Cd (0%). The similar ranking is also seen for MSQ class I. All metal concentrations were less than the ERM value, except Ni of which value 10.3% exceeded the ERM value. The potentially ecological risk from these sedimentary metals could be reduced because they were mainly present in the residual fraction, which is not available for marine organisms. It seems that the Ni ERL value is too low (20.8. mg kg−1), close to the value (18.6 mg kg−1) of the upper continental crust, to obey. • This study reviews the published papers on trace metals in sediment of the East China Sea (ECS). • The USEPA and China MSQ guidelines are used to assess the metals contamination status of the ECS. • Ni is the most contaminating element because 96% of Ni concentration exceeded the ERL value. • The metal contamination status of the ECS sediment follows the sequence Ni > As>Cr > Cu > Zn > Hg > Pb > Cd. • The ERL guideline value for Ni is too low, very close the upper continental crust value, to obey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Alustath is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It is very important to ascertain the trend of the Jiangshao Fault Zone after it enters the East China Sea for the study of the South China Block. In this paper, we intended to solve the problem based on analysis of aeromagnetic data for South China, the East China Sea, and the adjacent areas. We described the distribution and structural features of the Jiangshao Fault Zone, and identified magnetic anomaly features, fault structures, and volcanic rock suites, along with the spatial distribution of igneous bodies with a high magnetic susceptibility. The spatial extent of the Jiangshao Fault Zone onland and offshore was determined through a comparison of the magnetic anomaly features with the geology and inferred structures. The Jiangshao Fault Zone extends from onland to offshore along a NE–SW trend. The formation of the Jiangshao Fault Zone was determined by comparing the stratigraphy and structures of the basement rocks, lithological units, and geological histories of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks. The spatial distribution of magmatic bodies with high magnetic susceptibility in the South China Block was revealed by the inversion results of aeromagnetic data. These findings contribute to understanding the tectonic evolution of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, and provide insights into the geological structure of the East China Sea and formation of the East China Sea Shelf Basin. • Determine the spatial extent of the Jiangshao Fault Zone onland and offshore. • Demonstrate that the Jiangshao Fault Zone extends from onland to offshore along a NE–SW trend instead of a near-EW trend. • Summarize the formation of the Jiangshao Fault Zone by comparing the differences between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks. • Reveal the spatial distribution of magmatic bodies with high magnetic susceptibility in the South China Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Politicas y Sociales is the property of Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Politicas y Sociales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The East China Sea (ECS) seasonally receives a high organic input due to the terrestrial organic matter influx, which is controlled by the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM), and the increased productivity driven by upwelling of the subsurface Kuroshio Current (KC). Changes in benthic foraminiferal assemblage composition in combination with paleoceanographic proxy data (CaCO3 (%), TOC (%), δ13Cpf, and δ18Obf) are used to reconstruct bottom water oxygenation and organic export flux variability over the last 400 kyr in the ECS. Multivariate analyses of benthic foraminiferal census data identified six biofacies characteristic of varying environmental conditions. These results suggest that enhanced EASM precipitation and KC upwelling directly influenced organic export flux and bottom water oxygen content in the ECS. The ECS bottom water was suboxic during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11 to 8; suboxic to dysoxic between MIS 7 and 6, strongly dysoxic between mid‐MIS 5 and 4, and exhibited high variability between MIS 3 and 1. Spectral analysis of relative abundances of representative genera Quinqueloculina (oxic), Bulimina (suboxic), and Globobulimina (dysoxic) reveals a robust 23 kyr signal, which we attribute to precessionally‐paced changes in surface productivity and bottom water oxygenation related to KC variability over the past 400 kyr. Key Points: Four distinct phases of bottom water oxygenation were identified during the last 400 kyr in the East China SeaEast Asian Summer Monsoon and Kuroshio Current influenced East China Sea productivity, organic export flux, and bottom water oxygenationPrecessional variability modulates bottom water oxygenation in ECS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Effects of Gracilaria verrucosa through competition for nutrients on microalgae were evaluated in the laboratory and in an enclosed sea with an area of 1.72km2 in the northern part of the East China Sea. Results showed that the concentration of NH4-N, NO3-N and NO2-N in the monoculture of G. verrucosa was significantly correlated with that in co-culture of G. verrucosa with Karenia mikimotoi (p <0.01) during the period of experiments, but the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in the monoculture of K. mikimotoi changed little, which indicated that the DIN was mainly absorbed by G. verrucosa in coexistence systems, while the PO4-P in the coexistence assays was absorbed jointly by G. verrucosa and K. mikimotoi. Corresponding to the dramatically decline of the DIN concentration, the K. mikimotoi density was significantly decreased, which indicated that the growth of K. mikimotoi was suppressed by G. verrucosa mainly through competing for nutrients, especially for nitrogen. In the eutrophic seawater with G. verrucosa cultivation, the nutrient concentration was dramatically decreased compared with the control, and synchronously, the phytoplankton population density was also significantly lower compared with the control. Furthermore, the species diversity, richness and evenness were significantly increased during the period of G. verrucosa cultivation, and non-HAB species dominated the phytoplankton population. The results of present paper indicated that G. verrucosa cultivated in the real field would probably suppress the survival and growth of phytoplankton by competing for nutrients, especially for nitrogen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Matrix bound phosphine (MBP) is commonly considered an important phosphorus form in the natural environment. This paper presents an investigation of the spatial distribution of MBP and its relationship with the environmental factors in the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent shelf areas (29.5–32°N, 122–124°E). A total of 32 surface sediment samples were collected from April 24 to 30, 2008. MBP was detected in all samples from the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent shelf surface sediments (0.1–29.7 ng kg−1). The concentration of MBP decreased from the Changjiang Estuary to the East China Sea shelf. Environmental factors such as organic matter, type of sediments, and redox conditions were found to affect the concentration and distribution of MBP in the marine sediments. Although the MBP levels were low in the marine sediments, the marine biogeochemical cycles of MBP in sediments were established and the information presented here will contribute to the understanding of the biogeochemical cycle of phosphorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogical and grain-size analyses indicate that inner continental shelf sediments in the East China Sea (ECS) represent a unique mixing of clays derived from the Yangtze River and silts/sands from small western Taiwanese rivers. Taiwanese (e.g., Choshui) clays (<2μm) display no smectite but the best illite crystallinity and are only distributed along southeastern Taiwan Strait. Both Yangtze and Taiwanese river clays are illite-dominated, but the poor illite crystallinity and the presence of smectite and kaolinite indicate that Taiwan Strait clays are mainly Yangtze-dominated. In contrast, medium silts (20–35μm) and very fine sands (63–90μm) in the Taiwan Strait are characterized by low feldspar/quartz, low K-feldspar/plagioclase and high kaolinite/quartz, indicating their provenance from Taiwanese rivers. Taiwanese silts and sands are introduced primarily by the way of typhoon-derived floods and transported northward by the Taiwan Warm Current during summer–fall months. Yangtze clays, in contrast, are widely dispersed southward about 1000km to the western Taiwan Strait, transported by the China Coastal Current during winter–spring months. Since most Taiwan Strait samples were collected in May 2006, clay results in this paper might only represent the winter–spring pattern of the dispersal of Yangtze sediments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In complied data of atmospheric deposition of 210Pb and 7Be in the world, the data from China is of lack. In the present paper, atmospheric depositional fluxes of 7Be and 210Pb were simultaneously measured in semimonthly interval for 1 year (from November 2005 to October 2006) at Shanghai (31°13′39″N, 121°23′56″E), China, 50km from the coastal of East China Sea. The annual average flux of 210Pb and 7Be in 2006 is 4.79×102 and 2.07×103 Bqm−2 year−1, respectively. Compared with the published data, the highest flux of 210Pb in 2006 at Shanghai was clearly observed during studying periods. The possible reason for such high flux of 210Pb is discussed. Furthermore, deposition fluxes of both 210Pb and 7Be show varieties in seasons: highest flux of 210Pb in winter (November–August) and that of 7Be in spring (March–May). Moreover, the correlation between activity fluxes and precipitation are weak both for 7Be and 210Pb in whole of 2006; however, the high correlation are observed in autumn and spring for 7Be and that only in autumn for 210Pb. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Environmental context: Amines in the atmosphere play important roles in atmospheric chemistry and have potential climate effects. We characterise the concentrations, size distributions and chemical pathways of aerosol aminiums over a coastal city and marginal seas, and estimated the contribution of marine biogenic sources. This study can facilitate our understanding about the interactions between human activities, biogenic emissions and the atmospheric environment. Atmospheric amines are gaining more and more attention in the field of atmospheric chemistry owing to their important roles in new particle formation and growth. In this study, aerosol aminiums over a coastal city (Shanghai) and the Yellow and East China seas (YECS) were characterised. The concentrations of NH4+, dimethylaminium (DMAH+) and trimethylaminium + diethylaminium (TMDEAH+) over Shanghai were all found to be higher in the winter of 2018 than in the summer of 2019, suggesting their non-negligible terrestrial contributions. DMAH+ and TMDEAH+ concentrations over the YECS in summer were closely correlated and linked to surface phytoplankton biomass, implying that marine biogenic sources might be a predominant contributor to aminiums at this time. Aminiums over Shanghai generally showed a bimodal distribution with a main peak in droplet mode and a secondary peak in condensation mode, suggesting the notable contribution of aqueous-phase or heterogeneous reaction to the formation of aminiums. In contrast, aminiums over the YECS often showed a unimodal distribution, which may be caused by the competition between amines and NH3 for reaction with acidic compounds. We estimated the contributions of marine biogenic sources, ~73.6 % to DMAH+ and 80.1 % to TMDEAH+ over the YECS, using methanesulfonate/non-sea-salt SO42- as an indicator. Our results suggest that marine biogenic emission of amines from China's marginal seas may have a potential impact on coastal cities, and this source should be considered in modelling new particle formation and air quality in coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's disputes with its South East Asian neighbours and Japan in the South and East China Seas have emerged as important tests of the implications of China's rise, posing dilemmas not just for regional states but also for other global actors, including European states and the European Union (EU). European responses to these disputes have pulled in three directions: a normative approach emphasising the resolution of disputes within the framework of international law; a power balancing approach, led by France and the United Kingdom, involving support for freedom of navigation operations and strengthened bilateral and EU ties with other Asian states; and de facto acquiescence to Chinese advances in the region. In terms of understanding EU foreign policy, this case suggests a sequence: a normative approach as the initial default EU policy; a turn to power balancing when the effectiveness of that policy is called into question, but also the possibility of acquiescence and consequent divisions amongst EU member states. Europe faces dilemmas in balancing support for the United States, Japan and the South-East Asian states with its strategic partnership with China, but in practice European policy is much closer to that of the former group than that of Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present analysis has revealed that both the altimetry and tide gauge records show a prominent sea level rise from 1993 to 2016 in the coastal seas east of China, including Bohai, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea (BYECS). The regional mean sea level rise rate for the BYECS continental shelf area is ~ 3.2 mm/year, which is close to the global mean (2.9 mm/year). Besides the rising trend, the BYECS sea level anomaly (SLA) also shows obvious interannual and decadal oscillation. It is found that the mid-latitude westerlies, rather than the steric height variability, are responsible for these oscillations. By analyzing the 67-year (1950–2016) hindcast outputs from an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model, a 14.2 years decadal period is found to dominate the BYECS SLA variability, and the decadal oscillation is positively correlated with the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO). The composite analysis and causality analysis demonstrate that during the positive phase of the NPGO, the mid-latitude westerlies decrease and a positive wind stress curl anomaly at the same latitude of the East China Sea's Kuroshio occurs to the south of the westerlies. Consequently, the Kuroshio Current volume transport and sea surface height difference between the two sides of the Kuroshio decrease, that is, the sea level in the BYECS rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the lack of applicability of the existing equivalent evaporation duct feature calculation scheme in China's sea area and the requirement of the evaporation duct model test, this study used the actual sounding data in China's coastal areas and studied the applicability of the three computational schemes proposed by J.F. Howell, S.P. Oncley, and G.J. Steeneveld in different sea areas and different seasons by comparing the error and standard deviation. The applicability of the sea area shows that the best calculation scheme for the equivalent evaporating duct feature in the South China Sea is the scheme proposed by G.J. Steeneveld et al., while the optimal calculation method for the East China Sea is the scheme proposed by S.P. Oncley et al.; the seasonal applicability shows that the scheme proposed by G.J. Steeneveld et al. has the best-fitting results in the spring, while in the summer and winter, the scheme proposed by S.P. Oncley et al. fits best. These results provide a theoretical basis for the follow-up study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yangtze (Changjiang) River enters the East China Sea with huge annual freshwater and sediment deposits. This outflow, known as the Changjiang diluted water ( CDW), causes striking ecological gradients that potentially shape coastal species' distribution and differentiation. The CDW has long been rendered as a marine biogeographic boundary separating cold-temperature and warm-water faunas, but it remains unclear whether and to what extent it acts as an intraspecific barrier. Here, we synthesize published phylogeographic studies related to the CDW to address these issues. We find that the influence of the CDW on population differentiation is taxonomically variable, and even congeneric species may respond differently. In studies that claim the CDW is a phylogeographic barrier, the underlying assumptions explaining observed genetic breaks are sometimes incorrect, and some may have misinterpreted results due to conceptual confusion or insufficient geographic sampling. After excluding these studies, the remaining ones generally show shallow genetic divergence but significant population structure for coastal species across the CDW, suggesting that the CDW has not been a historically persistent barrier, but rather has acted as a filter within some species recently, probably after the last glacial maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2000 saw Congress require the Department of Defense (DOD) to prepare an annual report on Chinese military power. This report contains classified and unclassified editions. Documenting Chinese military developments, strategy, and trends are critical parts of these reports. Beijing's military activities in the East China Sea (ECS) are important report components. This work explains the importance of these and other DOD reports for those studying ECS developments, examines how DOD has documented Beijing's military activities within these publicly accessible reports, and describes how members of Congress have reacted to ECS developments during the Obama Administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition and compound-specific isotopes of fatty acids were studied within food webs in the East China Sea. Lipid-normalized stable carbon isotopes of total organic carbon had a good correlation with trophic level. Variations in fatty acid compositions among diff erent species were observed but were unclear. Diff erent dietary structures could be traced from molecular isotopes of selected fatty acids in the Shiba shrimp ( Matapenaeus joyneri), the coastal mud shrimp ( Solenocera crassicornis) and the northern Maoxia shrimp ( Acetes chinensis). Both M. joyneri and S. crassicornis are mainly benthos feeders, while A. chinensis is a pelagic species, although they have a similar fatty acid composition. There was a good correlation for isotopes of arachidonic acid (C20:4n6; ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3; DHA) among pelagic species from higher trophic levels. The isotopic compositions of DHA in benthic species were more negative than those of pelagic species at the same trophic level. The fact that the diet of benthic species contains more degraded items, the carbon isotopes of which are derived from a large biochemical fraction, may be the reason for this variation. A comparative study of benthic and pelagic species demonstrated the diff erent carbon sources in potential food items and the presence of a more complex system at the water-sediment interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paguristione uniuropodus gen. n., sp. n. infests Paguristes sp. in the East China Sea. Paguristione gen. n. differs from the closely related genera Pseudione and Pagurion by its females having indistinct lateral plates on the last two pleomeres and its male with a long tapering pleon of six pleomeres, lacking both pleopoda and uropoda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wang, T.; Liu, G.; Gao, L.; Zhu, L.; Fu, Q., and Li, D., 2016. Biological and nutrient responses to a typhoon in the Yangtze estuary and the adjacent sea. Typhoon Haikui passed through the Yangtze River estuary and the adjacent sea during the summer of 2012. Three field surveys were conducted before and after the passage of this typhoon. The effects of Haikui in this area on nutrient levels and biological production were studied by combining model data and several satellite observations. During the typhoon's passage, the water column was affected mainly by vertical mixing, which was caused by the strong wind. As the wind subsided, terrestrial runoff and offshore water intrusion became more important for changing the physical and chemical parameters. The Yangtze Diluted Water extended into the upper layer by 4 days after Haikui's landfall, largely because of the heavy typhoon-associated precipitation and considerably increased surface concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, silicate, and phosphate (by 53%, 27%, and 97%, respectively). Meanwhile, the strong onshore wind induced a strong intrusion of high-salinity offshore water in the bottom layer, and this process somewhat decreased the bottom nutrient concentrations (except for phosphate) after the typhoon. The changes in nutrient concentrations in the middle layer were quite complex because of the multiple effects of the processes described above. The increased nutrient concentrations, particularly those of phosphate, greatly promoted the growth of the upper phytoplankton in the offshore areas, although the phytoplankton biomass was found to decline rapidly a few days after the typhoon had passed. The results of this study suggest that Haikui had a profound influence on water circulation and on the chemical and biological responses in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do some Chinese cities take part in waves of nationalist protest but not others? Nationalist protest remains an important but understudied topic within the study of contentious politics in China, particularly at the subnational level. Relative to other protests, nationalist mobilization is more clustered in time and geographically widespread, uniting citizens in different cities against a common target. Although the literature has debated the degree of state-led and grassroots influence on Chinese nationalism, we argue that it is important to consider both the propensity of citizens to mobilize and local government fears of instability. Analysing an original dataset of 377 anti-Japanese protests across 208 of 287 Chinese prefectural cities, we find that both state-led patriotism and the availability of collective action resources were positively associated with nationalist protest, particularly “biographically available” populations of students and migrants. In addition, the government's role was not monolithically facilitative. Fears of social unrest shaped the local political opportunity structure, with anti-Japanese protests less likely in cities with larger populations of unemployed college graduates and ethnic minorities and more likely in cities with established leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the challenges and potential impact of China's demand for natural gas on global markets. It reports on the country's projected demand growth for 25 years. It explores the country's development of domestic gas reserves for import demand over the short to medium term being a self-sufficient gas producer on international market.

quasi-stationary model of vertical distribution of concentration of suspended particular matter in the bottom layer of 1D open channel with a sloped bottom and varying free surface slope is discussed. The model proceeds from the balance between the turbulent diffusion and settling with the buoyancy flux effects on the medium turbulence neglected. The model outcome is formulated in the form of an analytic formula for the vertical distribution of concentration. It is shown that the derived formula embraces two basic types of vertical distribution of concentration, one with a monotonic decrease of concentration gradient and the other with a gradient maximum (lutocline) located at some distance from the bottom. The first distribution type realizes for a relatively large settling velocity or low intensity of turbulence and the second type for a small settling velocity or high intensity of turbulence. The skill of the model to mimic realistic situations is demonstrated on data measured in the Jiaojiang Estuary (China). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the distribution and abundance of Dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans and mesozooplankton along two transect lines covering the China shelf, slope, the estuaries of the Yangtze River and the Minjiang River, the Northern Taiwan Strait, and the Kuroshio Current region during the summer of 2001. In addition to the regular sampling, 24-h high-frequency sampling at four fixed stations (estuary of the Yangtze River, estuary of the Minjiang River, the Northern Taiwan Strait, and the Kuroshio Current region stations) were also conducted to understand the diurnal vertical migration behavior of zooplankton. Mesozooplankton were dominated by Calanoida (relative abundance, RA 15.74%), Cyclopoida (RA 5.10%), Pteropoda (RA 3.88%), and copepod nauplii (RA 3.42%). Chaetognaths and calanoid copepods were recorded in all samples. Noctiluca scintillans was abundant (RA 51.04%) among all identified organisms in samples at low-salinity stations, particularly in the estuarine region of the Yangtze River. Copepods were the dominant group of mesozooplankton at most stations of the Southwest East China Sea. Our 24-h high-frequency sampling did not reveal any clear diurnal vertical migration behavior of zooplankton. The cluster analysis indicates that differential patterns of the zooplankton community structure in the Southwest East China Sea were related to different water masses. Our results provide useful information on zooplankton community structure in the estuarine region of the Yangtze River and the Southwest East China Sea prior to operation of the Three Gorges Dam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term hydrographic temperature and salinity transect data in the East China Sea from June 1955 to November 2001 are analyzed in order to examine the geostrophic velocity and the structure of the Kuroshio current. The structure of the Kuroshio Current is divided into three basic forms, a single-core structure, a double-core structure and a multi-core structure; the appearance percentage of the three forms are 53.1%, 31.4%, and 15.4%, respectively. The analysis suggests that multi-core structures have significant seasonal and interannual variabilities that are not fully understood but may relate to variations in transport and associated flow instabilities. The Kuroshio's spatial character is also analyzed in detail by applying a simplified model of motion instability into this multi-core structure of the East China Sea Kuroshio. The theoretical results are found to be consistent with the observations, suggesting that the instability of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea may bring forth the formation of the observed multi-core structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In June 2008, Japanese and Chinese media reported that a break-through had been reached in the four-and-a-half year Chunxiao gas dispute. Rumours that an agreement was imminent had been circulating since early 2008 and had gained momentum during Hu fin tao's historic visit to Japan in May. The breakthrough followed eleven rounds of director-general level discussions, and several ministerial and executive level meetings. The elite commitment to arrive at a consensus emerged after a period of significant tension in the bilateral relationship. Given this turn around in bilateral relations, the process by which the "new consensus" emerged merits investigation as it may hold lessons for Sino-Japanese relations as a whole. In an effort to explain the circumstances of the June agreement and analyse what lessons it holds for the Sino-Japanese relationship, this article is divided into three sections. The first section explores the background of the Chunxiao gas dispute in an effort to understand what is at stake in the dispute and the barriers to compromise. The second section analyses the breakthrough in June. The final section discusses the prospects and barriers to future cooperation. The article concludes with an assessment of what lessons can be learned from the agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine ecosystems of the East China Sea are rich in biodiversity, with 12,933 species of which approximately 47.7% are endemic. As anthropogenic impacts are intensifying, fishery resources and biodiversity in the East China Sea are under threat from overfishing, habitat loss, pollution, and biological invasions. Marine protected areas (MPAs) and other spatial management measures are believed useful tools to protect and restore biological resources. Seventeen nature reserves, seven special marine reserves, and three fishery resource conservation zones covering a combined area of 102,156 km2 have so far been established in the Chinese East China Sea in order to protect fishery resources, biodiversity, and marine landscapes. This article provides a review and inventory of MPAs in the Chinese East China Sea as implemented by the People's Republic of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (AAPB) are a group of heterotrophic bacteria capable of photosynthesis. The dynamics of AAPB in the East China Sea, a typical marginal sea characterized by diverse physical-chemical and ecological conditions, were investigated from April 2002 to September 2003. The results showed that the abundance of AAPB varied from 0.16 to 7.9 × 104 cells mL−1 and the percentage of AAPB (AAPB%) in the total heterotrophic bacterial abundance varied from 0.5% to 11.6% over a gradient of environmental conditions. The abundance of AAPB and AAPB% was higher in coastal and continental shelf waters than in oceanic waters. An interesting seasonal pattern was observed in the Yangtze River estuary: the abundance of AAPB was highest in summer and lowest in winter; however, AAPB% was higher in winter than in the other seasons. Throughout the investigation period, variation of AAPB abundance with temperature was much less than that of nonAAPB abundance, suggesting that low temperature was not a limiting factor for AAPB in this case. Close correlation between AAPB and chlorophyll a was observed in each season, suggesting that dependence of AAPB on dissolved organic carbon produced by phytoplankton (PDOC) may be one key factor controlling AAPB distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands have brought China and Japan into a bitter dispute for many decades. With regard to the real question of who owns sovereignty over the islands, the two claimants can not come to terms on several critical issues, such as whether the islands were terra nullius when Japan claimed sovereignty in 1895, whether Japan returned the islands to China after the Japanese defeat in WWII, and how their maritime boundary in the East China Sea should be demarcated according to international law. There is no ready solution to the longstanding stalemate, but the pending dispute could be shelved and managed from escalating into a military conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of several studies on environmental geochemistry. Some of the abstracts presented include "Biogeochemical Cycling of Nutrients in Karstic Catchments, Southwestern China: Linkages to Changes of Eco-Environments," by Congqiang Liu and "Emerging Organic Contamination in China," by Guibin Jiang and colleagues.

The East China Sea and southern Yellow Sea ecosystems have undergone drastic changes over the past decades. The changes in the ecosystems are attributable to both natural and anthropogenic stressors. We analyzed the seasonal and interannual variability of the sea surface chlorophyll-a in the East China Sea and the southern Yellow Sea using a suite of remotely sensed data (1998–2012). When seen on a Large Marine Ecosystem level, there seems no trend in the region. However, when seen on a sub-regional scale, heterogeneous responses can be recognized among the subregions. There was an increasing trend of chlorophyll-a in the vicinity of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River mouth, while there was a decreasing trend in the southeastern slope area which can be attributed to anthropogenic nutrient enrichment and warming, respectively. Contrary to some previous studies, our analysis clearly showed that the summer-autumn averaged chlorophyll-a decreased by about 14% in a large area (circa 178,000 k m 2 ) in the northeastern East China Sea after 2003 coinciding with the initial impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam. Our analysis demonstrates that our ability to detect the trends in response to multiple stressors largely depends on choosing an appropriate spatiotemporal scale. • The East China Sea ecosystem has undergone spatio-temporally heterogeneous changes. • In nearshore areas, the chlorophyll-a increased due to anthropogenic nutrient enrichment. • In the continental slope areas, the chlorophyll-a gradually decreased due to warming. • The chlorophyll-a in an offshore area was reduced after the Three Gorges Dam operation. • Choosing an appropriate scale is vital to unravel heterogeneous ecosystem responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine ranching, which is considered a sustainable fishery mode that has advantages for the ecosystem approach to fishery, the ecosystem approach to aquaculture, and capture-based aquaculture, is rapidly growing in China. The development of marine ranching requires integrating different theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches for conceptual exploring, and models and management of ecosystem frameworks. We reviewed the definition of marine ranching, the history of marine ranching construction in China, and the techniques, principles, and cases of marine ranching construction and management in the East China Sea (ECS). We highlight four major developments in marine ranching in the ECS: (1) marine ranching site selection and design, (2) habitat restoration and construction technologies, (3) stock enhancement and the behavioral control of fishery resources, and (4) marine ranching management. We conclude that this step-wise procedure for marine ranching construction and management could have comprehensive benefits in terms of ecology, the economy, and society. Finally, a synthesis of the existing problems in ECS marine ranching construction, along with future challenges and directions, are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Taiwan Strait is a critical corridor connecting the East China Sea to the South China Sea. The divided status of China as a result ofthe civil war in 1949 has made the situation in the Taiwan Strait complicated and uncertain. After the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS), the legal status of the Taiwan Strait has been changed from a strait embodying high seas waters to a strait only with waters under national jurisdiction of China. The waters within the Strait may bedivided into several sea zones in accordance with the LOS Convention, i.e., the internal waters, territorial sea and EEZ; continental shelf. Due to the difference among the sea zones, the navigational waterways within the Taiwan Strait are subject to different legal rules. Thus cross-Strait cooperation between mainland China and Taiwan is necessary to manage the Taiwan Strait and human activities therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]