The South China Sea (SCS) experienced a significant reduction in warming rate (− 0.01 °C decade −1 , $$p>0.10$$ p > 0.10 ) during 1999–2010 following an accelerated and unprecedented warming (+ 0.15 °C decade −1 , $$p<0.01$$ p < 0.01 ) in the last three decades (1970–1998). However, most global climate models of the CMIP5 RCP4.5 scenario failed to capture this SCS warming slowdown. In this study, we identify two drivers throug...