Published : 2024-06-21
On 21 June 2012, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China, the State Council had approved the establishment of a new prefecture-level city, Sansha City (三沙市), in Hainan Province, and the seat of the government would be stationed on Yongxing Island in the Xisha Islands.
The Administration Office of the Xisha Islands (西沙群島), Nansha Islands (南沙群島), and Zhongsha Islands (中沙群島) of Hainan Province were abolished at the same time.
Sansha City is the second prefecture-level city in China which is established based on an archipelago, following Zhoushan City (舟山市) in Zhejiang Province. It is also currently the southernmost city in China in terms of latitude.
Sansha City governs the islands and reefs along with their waters of the Xisha Islands, Zhongsha Islands, and Nansha Islands, which gives China a more favourable legal basis for controlling the South China Sea along with its affiliated islands, reefs, and related territorial waters.
Most importantly, the establishment of Sansha City helps to advance the front line southward in upholding China's territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea.
Yongxing Island, where the government of Sansha City is located, covers an area of 2.3 km². It is the largest island in the South China Sea and the military, economic, and cultural centre of Sansha City.
The future marine area of Sansha City will exceed 2 million km², which is approximately one quarter of the total land area of China (9.6 million km²).
