A key component of the East Asian climate system is seasonally varying monsoon wind. Its interannual and interdecadal variability, as well as underlying oceanic processes, is the subject of a recent project completed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A series of research progress in the areas of monsoon winds, ocean responses, upwelling and productivity has been made and reviewed by this paper. A key component of the East Asian climate system is seasonally varying monsoon wind. Its interannual and interdecadal variability, as well as underlying oceanic processes, is the subject of a recent project completed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A series of research progress in the areas of monsoon winds, ocean responses, upwelling and productivity has been made and reviewed by this paper.