Flag-raising rites held on Sansha

MANILA, Philippines - The newly established city of Sansha in the West Philippine Sea on Monday held a flag raising ceremony marking the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

China’s state-run news agency Xinhua reported the flag ceremony was held to mark the National Day on Yongxing Island, the seat of the municipal government of Sansha, south China’s Hainan province.

Yongxing Island is part of the Paracels (Xisha) Islands.

Jiang Teng, one of the soldiers who raised the flag, said he was proud to mark the day in Sansha City.

“We have a bigger role to play in guarding this southernmost Chinese city,” he said.

Sansha City was created on July 24 on Yongxing Island to administer the Xisha (Paracels), Zhongsha (Macclesfield bank) islands and Nansha (Spratlys) islands and their surrounding waters in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

The Philippines protested in July China’s establishment of Sansha City to administer three disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea and future development of the islands.

The United States criticized China’s upgrading of Sansha City and the establishment of a new military garrison there covering disputed areas of the South China Sea, saying it runs counter to collaborative diplomatic efforts to resolve differences and risks further escalating tensions in the region.

State Department acting deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell said the US is concerned by the increase in tensions in the South China Sea and is monitoring the situation closely.

China is speeding up the construction of Sansha as authorities on Saturday began mapping out development plans for four infrastructure projects and started a housing program as the building of the island city revs up.

According to a report on the Chinese government’s web portal, the infrastructure projects include road construction, water supply and drainage on Yongxing Island.

The plan, seven roads with a total length of five kilometers, will be repaired or built to improve the island’s traffic situation.

A desalinator capable of processing 1,000 cubic meters of seawater a day will be built on the island to ensure fresh water supply. The construction of the housing program worth 18.7 million yuan ($2.97 million) is also set to begin.