BEIJING, July 23 (UPI) -- China took further steps to strengthen its claims on disputed islands in the South China Sea, including deciding to deploy a military garrison in the region.
The official Xinhua news agency said China's powerful central military authority had approved to form and deploy a military garrison in Sansha, a newly formed prefectural-level city in south China's Hainan province. Sansha is designed to administer the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha Islands and the surrounding waters in the South China Sea, Xinhua reported.
The decision to deploy soldiers came after Sansha's first city people's congress announced deputies were elected during the weekend by the 1,100 residents from the islands, Xinhua reported. Yongxing Island was named the government seat of Sansha, established in June.
Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha Islands are Chinese names for the resource-rich Spratlys, the Paracels and the Macclesfield Bank islands group in the South China Sea, seen as vital for international trade and shipping.
The South China Sea islands are also claimed by some of the countries neighboring China including Vietnam and the Philippines, which are members of the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations. The ASEAN foreign ministers' failure this month to come up even with a joint communique on the Sea issue, was reported to be a result of pressure from China, which wants resolution of the issue through bilateral consultations and not a multinational forum such as the ASEAN.
The New York Times said the new Sansha deputies would govern the island groups as well as 2 million square kilometers of the South China Sea over which China claims jurisdiction.
In Hanoi during the weekend, Vietnamese demonstrated against the Chinese claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, shouting "the Spratly and Paracel Islands belong to Vietnam!" and "Down with Chinese aggression!," Britain's Guardian reported.
The Philippines' GMA News reported the latest Chinese announcements are part of a series of recent actions that have expanded China's physical presence in the vast disputed waters and defied condemnation around the region. The report said the Philippine government already has lodged a diplomatic protest against China's establishment of Sansha City, saying it infringes on Philippine sovereign rights over the waters and continental shelf of the West Philippine Sea.
Continued here:
China strengthens islands claims
- Water Purification Island [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Private Islands: South China Sea Style [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- The Best of Fiji [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- High Cay: Bahamas [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- The World: Back on the Market [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- The Island Market is Back [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Haunted Halloween Island [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Ambergris Island Property [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Paradise Sinking [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Parrot Cay: Own a Piece of Privacy [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- An Icky Day [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- It's a Cory's! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- There she blows! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Bye bye Whale [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- No Bunting Mistake [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Whale of a time... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Leaving day [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Look who's back... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Lanced... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Migrants role in... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Pups away! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Double take [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Northerly wind blows [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Northern visitors [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Siege! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Storm time [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Storm season [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Storming over [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Sealing mission [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Still no go [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Over they go! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- All change [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Welcome back storms [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Fight club [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- V Australia to Fiji [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Tahiti Sun Travel For Sale [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Cook Islands Travel Guide [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Perfectly Frank – Fiji [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Cook Islands Tax Hike [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Easter Island Travel Guide [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Surviving Paradise [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Canada Seal Hunt ‘09 [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Tuvalu Travel Guide [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Saudi Arabian Sojourn [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Laurent Pichot on Moorea [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Largest Island for Sale in the World. [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Isla Kiniw: Incredible Island Rental [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Save at Sandals Resorts [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Marvelous Mediterranean: Skyropoula Island [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Branson Talks Necker Island [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Hog Island: Affordable Nova Scotia [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Banyan Tree: Seychelles [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Celebrity Secret Vacation Spots [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Star Island [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- 7 Islands in 7 Days [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Counting continues [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Life goes on [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Payback time [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- No let up [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Game on [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Deal or No Deal? [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Food glorious food [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Mainland beckons... [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The tempest is coming [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Tought times ahead [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Tystie day [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Saying Goodbye...maybe [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Departure Day [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Seal pups [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Seabird Breeding Season 2009 [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Maritime Terminal Papeete Tahiti [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- A splash of colour [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Tiger Woods Wife purchases Island Retreat [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2009]
- New Flights to Fiji [Last Updated On: December 18th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 18th, 2009]
- Five Star Fiji [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2009]
- Go Farther in Nicaragua [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2009]
- Zoo Island [Last Updated On: December 21st, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 21st, 2009]
- Seasons Greetings 2009 [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2009]
- Green Ark Island [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2009]
- Merry Christmas! [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2009]