Spatial variations of the CO₂ partial pressure (pCO₂) in surface water, seasonal variations of the airsea CO₂ exchange flux (FCO₂), and major controlling factors of the CO₂ transfer were reviewed based on the summary of CO₂ exchange in the East China Sea (ECS). Spatial distribution of  pCO₂ in the ECS underwent three different phases: the winter phase, the summer phase, and the transition phase (spring and autumn). The western coastal area acted as CO₂ source on account of vertical convection during the winter phase, whereas the shelf region acted as CO₂sink because of the phytoplankton activity. Estuary in the shallower shelf possessed high pCO₂ for terrigenous input in the summer phase while the major shelf had low pCO₂ under the comprehensive function of thermocline, Changjiang diluted water, and photosynthesis. During the transition phase in spring and autumn, the distribution of pCO₂ varied dramatically and got complex controlling factors. The winter, spring, and summer could absorb atmospheric CO₂with the flux for （-6.68±6.93）, （-4.94±0.80）, （-3.67±1.09） mmol/（m²·d）, respectively, whereas the autumn could release CO₂with the flux for （2.64±7.06）mmol/（m²·d）. The ECS serves as a carbon sink with the annual air-sea CO₂ flux for -3.16 mmol/(m²·d), which equals to 6.92×10⁶t C/a. Anthropogenic activities and the aggregative of eutrophication were the principal reason for the annual variation of CO₂ flux probably.