The State Council has approved the set up of a prefecture-level city, to manage the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha islands and their surrounding areas in the South China Sea.

The city of Sansha will be located at Yongxing, on one of the Xisha islands. China has long exercised jurisdiction and sovereignty over these areas. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, administrative offices were set up on these islands, under the governance of Hainan province.

The setting up of Sansha city aims to strengthen the administrative management of the islands and protect the marine environment of the South China Sea.