70 tropical cyclones(TCs) were formed in the belt within the range of 0°-5°N in the western North Pacific basin during the period of 1979 to 2012,accounting for 8% of the total TCs.In addition,64% of these were intensified to typhoons.However,studies regarding such near-equatorial TCs are rare.In this study,the best track from Joint Typhoon Warning Center,the reanalysis from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts interim,and the National oceanic and atmospheric administration optimum interpolation sea surface temperature are used to diagnose the interannual,interdecadal and seasonal characteristics of the near-equatorial TCs.The large-scale circulation and cyclonegesis are mainly investigated.The results show that the near-equatorial TCs have obvious interannual and interdecadal variations and opposite seasonal variations contrast with the total TCs over the western North Pacific.The large-scale environmental fields of near-equatorial TC genesis are characterized by a cyclonic circulation within the northeasterly and northwesterly wind.The dynamic term of absolute vorticity in the lower troposphere and thermal term of relative humidity in the middle troposphere are the main contributors to the formation of the near-equatorial TCs.The higher positive vorticity in the lower troposphere and relative humidity in the middle troposphere are required compared with the TCs formed in the belt within the range of 5°-10°N.