The high-resolution quantitative analysis of the planktonic foraminifera and the δ18O records of the section between 96.49-137.6 mcd at ODP Site 1144 on the continental slope of northern South China Sea reveals an abrupt cooling event of sea surface temperature (SST) during the last interglacial (MIS 5.5, i.e. 5e). The dropping range of the winter SST may come to 7.5℃corresponding to 1.2‰of theδ18O value of sea surface water. This event is comparable with those discovered in the west Europe and the northern Atlantic Ocean, but expressed in a more intensive way. It is inferred that this event may have been induced by middle-to low-latitude processes rather than by polar ice sheet change. Since the Kuroshio-index species Pulleniatina obliquilocu-lata displayed the most distinct change at the event, it may also be related to the paleocean-ographic change of the low-latitude area in the western Pacific Ocean. This event can be considered as one of “Younger Dryas-style coolings” and is indicative of clima The high-resolution quantitative analysis of the planktonic foraminifera and the δ18O records of the section between 96.49-137.6 mcd at ODP Site 1144 on the continental slope of northern South China Sea reveals an abrupt cooling event of sea surface temperature (SST) during the last The dropping range of the winter SST may come to 7.5 ° C corresponding to 1.2 ‰ of the δ18O value of sea surface water. This event is comparable with those discovered in the west Europe and the northern Atlantic Ocean, It is inferred that this event may have been induced by middle-to-low latitude processes rather than by polar ice sheet change. Since the Kuroshio-index species Pulleniatina obliquilocu-lata displayed the most distinct change at the event, it may also be related to the paleocean -ographic change of the low-latitude area in the western Pacific Ocean. This event can be considered as one of “Younger Dryas-style coolings” and is indicative of clima