The Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Laizhouwan sag were systematically analyzed using currently- available seismic and drilling data, distribution features, tectonic restoration, deposition and subsidence history, and etc. Analysis of type of the basin indicates that the Laizhouwan sag is not a typical right-lateral strike-slip pull-apart basin, but a rifted basin controlled mainly by the extensional regime affected by the strike-slip. It is likely that the basin was affected by the left-lateral strike-slip before Sha3 period, and then was reformed into rifted and depression basin under the influence of right-lateral strike-slip.