近百年来,中国应形势需求和国力状况开展了对南海诸岛的自然科学调查研究,研究分阶段和分片区进行:20世纪20―30年代首开南海诸岛的现代自然科学调查研究;1946年南海诸岛收复后的科学调查研究;20世纪70年代重开西沙、中沙、东沙群岛科学调查研究;20世纪80年代开展大规模的南沙群岛科学考察。调查研究规模逐次变大,涉及学科增加,参加调查研究的单位与人员增多,获得实际资料更加丰富,成果累累,成效显著,推动了中国海洋科学研究事业的发展和提高,同时对国家的南海诸岛维权、建设和生产作出了贡献。
Scientific investigations in the South China Sea Islands had been carried out according to the China's situation and national power in the past century, which were divided into 4 periods: modern scientific investigation in 1920s-1930s; the investigation after the recovery of the South China Sea Islands in 1946; the investigation that restarted in Xisha Islands, Zhongsha Islands and Dongsha Islands in 1970s; extensive investigation in Nansha Islands since 1980 s. The scale of the scientific investigations gets larger and larger, and the associated subjects successively increase. More and more institutes and researchers participate in the investigations and abundant field-data and achievement have been obtained, which improve the marine science research in our country and contribute to the safeguarding and construction of the South China Sea Islands.