China Opens Large Fishing Port to 'Safeguard' South China Sea Claims

A new port facility in Hainan could serve as a base for China’s ‘maritime militias’ in the disputed South China Sea 

China on Monday officially opened a new fishing port at Yazhou, Hainan Province, to host fishing vessels operating in the disputed South China Sea. Located approximately 50 km West of Sanya, the Yazhou Bay Central Fishing Port — the largest in Hainan and the closest to the Nansha Islands (Spratlys) — commenced limited operations in April 2015. The port spans a length of 1,063 meters and counts 11 functional berths that can currently accommodate a fleet of 800 fishing boats. Local officials say they hope to expand capacity to as many as 2,000. Construction was completed in June this year. 

My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.