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Abstract The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), launched by Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Luxembourg after World War II, can provide enlightenment to joint development in the South China Sea (SCS). The enlightenment of the ECSC could be interpreted as follows: first, the ECSC set up a High Authority with supranational character; second, the ECSC made innovation in the method of gradual functionalism; third, France and West Germany played the leadership role during the establishment process of the ECSC, at the same time, the ECSC also took account of equity and the interests of small countries; fourth, the political elites, such as Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer, demonstrated political wisdom. Although the ECSC and joint development in the SCS are in different historical background, they both face the compromise challenge of the path selections between sovereignty disputes and joint development of resources. The ECSCs policies implications to the joint development in the SCS include: Firstly, the bilateral joint development agreement can proceed in parallel with multilateral joint development arrangement in the SCS; Secondly, the joint development among the SCS coastal states could focus on the oil and gas resources; Thirdly, the SCS coastal states could set up a joint development management authority with supranational character, namely, the South China Sea Authority (SCSA); Lastly, the joint development in the SCS should contribute to the ambitious political and economic goals and the East Asian integration in the future. If the SCS coastal states can successfully carry out joint development, which will promote peace, stability, prosperity and development in the SCS.
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