2010年6月，中共昭告美國南海是中國的「核心利益」。7月，在東協區域論壇上，外長楊潔篪強烈反對南海問題國際化、更反對美國的介入；8月，國務卿希拉蕊聲明南海涉及美國的國家利益。當中共「擱置爭議」處理南海問題時，他國卻繼續侵占海域與島礁。2014年，中共持續在南海島礁上填海造陸，顯示其已調整自我克制的南海戰略。中共在西沙、南沙，持續使「小島成堡壘、大島變基地。」此舉強化中共在南海的軍事存在，也擴充其在南海的戰略縱深。2020年，中共預期將擁有充沛的資金用於鞏固南海主權；屆時，南海情勢的變動將十分劇烈。

June 2010, the CCP to the United States noted that China's South China Sea is its ＂core interests.＂ When in July, at the ASEAN Regional Forum, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Chinese Communist Party strongly opposes the internationalization of the South China Sea issue, more opposed to US intervention. The US secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, attend in August, the ASEAN Regional Forum at Vietnam, said the South China Sea involving US national interests. When the Communist advocate ＂shelving disputes＂ of South China Sea issue, others have continued to encroach waters and reefs. In 2014, the CCP continued in the South China Sea islands and reefs land reclamation, the CCP has changed its self-restraint strategy of the South China Sea. In the Xisha, Nansha Islands, the CCP continued to make ＂the island into a fortress, the Big Island becomes the base.＂ Communist strengthen its military presence in the South China Sea, thus also expand the strategic depth in this area. In 2020, the CCP will have plenty of money to consolidate sovereignty; changes in the South China Sea will not be avoided.