China is all set to launch a new cruise ship in the disputed South China Sea's islands in Dec 2016 to promote tourism, media report indicated on 9
th Dec.
Nanhai Zhi Meng, the new cruise ship with a capacity of 893 people, will start its maiden voyage in late December.
It will conduct the cruise from Sanya to the Yongle Islands which are administered by China's newly-built city in the South China Sea called Sansha in Hainan province.
The cruise ship, owned by the Nanhai Cruises company, has finished a trial voyage
The trip will take four days, mainly visiting the islands of Yinyu, Quanfu and Yagong in the Xisha (Paracel) Islands, the report said.
The ship is scheduled to make the voyage 4-6 times each month.
SCS Dispute- The Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam.
- These are a cluster of islets, sandbanks and reefs southeast of Hainan Island.
- They are famous for their unusual scenery and ecosystem.
- Sansha city on Yongxing, one of the Xisha islands, was founded in July 2012 by China.
- City envisages tourism as its economic engine and administers three island groups i.e. Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha.
- Along with these are surrounding SCS waters.
- Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are the other disputants in SCS region.
