New Chinese City Formed to Rule Islands in South China Seas

The Chinese regime started to form a government body for the new city of Sansha, on Yongxing Island in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

 

The area is under an escalating territorial dispute between China and Vietnam, and the new government is seen as a move by Chinese authorities to assert its sovereignty. 

 

The sparsely inhabited cluster of islands will now be given a congress of 60 delegates, and a Standing Committee of 15. The new government will administer Zhongsha, Xisha and Nansha islands, covering an area of around 770,000 square miles.

 

These Islands and seas are believed to be rich in natural resources, and tension has been escalating recently between China and several neighboring countries over ownership of the islands.

 

Sansha City was founded in June by the Chinese cabinet. It raised the level of governance of Sansha in response to Vietnam passing a law to claim territorial rights over the Spratly and Paracel Islands.