Global coral reefs are undergoing continuous degradation, and it is universally acknowledged that alleviating local pressures stemming from regional coral reef degradation is crucial to counteract the substantial impacts of escalating global pressures. The coral reefs of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, a vital component of the “Coral Triangle,” have exhibited varying degrees of degradation in recent years, as revealed by ecological monitoring. Analyzing the factors contributing to coral reef degradation through pertinent ecological indicators is instrumental in comprehending coral reef trends, as well as facilitating their restoration and management. This paper, drawing upon existing surveys of Yongxing Island in the Xisha Islands, examines relevant ecological indicators such as coral cover, replenishment, and bleaching rates. The results indicate that over the past 40 years, the scleractinian corals of Yongxing Island have undergone a phased pattern of degradation: a period of healthy growth from 1984 to 2006, followed by rapid degradation from 2006 to 2011, slow recovery from 2011 to 2019, and renewed degradation from 2019 to 2021. This trend follows a general pattern of “healthy growth - sharp degradation - slow recovery - renewed degradation.” The crown-of-thorns starfish emerges as the primary driver of rapid degradation, with coral diseases exerting a certain influence during this stage. Human activities hinder the swift recovery of corals following rapid degradation to a certain extent, while coral bleaching is the primary factor governing both slow recovery and the later stages of renewed degradation. In comparison to the swift recovery of scleractinian corals in the Great Barrier Reef following its rapid degradation, the scleractinian corals of Yongxing Island have experienced more severe degradation and demonstrated a lower recovery rate over the past decade.