China is gearing up to open the disputed Paracel Islands on South China Sea for cruise tours from May, 2013. The Paracel Islands are a part of China's brand new establishment, Sansha City, which is controlled by the government of the Hainan Province.
A government agency announced Monday that the city would be starting cruise ship tours to Paracel for travelers. Tourists would stay on the cruise ships as the islands have only one hotel and no access to fresh water. Apparently, a 47,000 ton ship has been built to accommodate 2000 passengers. Until the sanitation and infrastructure of the islands are improved, the tourists would have to stay on board the ships.
The first tour is planned just ahead of May Day, reports BBC News.
Sansha City was established in July 2012, and comprises of Nansha, Zongsha and Xisha (Paracel) islands, all on the oil-rich South China Sea. It is home to around 1000 residents and administers around 2 million square kilometers of island expanse.
Claim on the islands have been long disputed. After a short war with Vietnam in 1974, China took control over the islands. When Sansha was established, Vietnam charged China for breaching International Laws. Additionally, Philippines, who also claims control over the islands, objected. Last month, Vietnam accused China of firing at a fishing boat that sailed into the waters of the disputed area, reported Herald Sun.
Experts believe that the decision to open the islands to tourists is an assertion of China's claim on the island, reported BBC News.
The other island groups in the South China Sea have been claimed by Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Taiwan plans to expand a pier on one of the disputed islands called the Taiping Island, reported Manila Times. Taiping, controlled by Taiwan, is the largest islet among the 700 floating lands. It is also the only islet that has access to fresh water.
