China keeps grip on South China Sea with patrols from Sansha outpost driving off hundreds of foreign ships
City set up to administer disputed islands and atolls has driven off more than 370 foreign vessels from the contested waters, mayor reports
The patrols were carried out from Sansha, a prefecture-level city set up four years ago to administer the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands and the Macclesfield Bank, called the Zongsha Islands by China. They have patrolled 324 times over 46,000 nautical miles in what is called a “five in one mechanism to safeguard China’s maritime rights”, referring to a combination of forces of the Communist Party, government, military, police and civilians.
Militia posts that could serve as offices, recreational centres and typhoon shelters on Woody Island – Yongxing Island in Chinese – and Tree Island were already in use. Construction of similar posts on Drummond Island and Robert Island was underway, the article said.
The above-mentioned islands are part of the Spratly Islands, and Drummond Island is also claimed by Vietnam.
