ASIA PACIFIC

China plans to begin civilian flights to, from disputed South China Sea isles

Chinese dredging vessels are seen at Mischief Reef, located in the disputed South China Sea, in this still image from video taken by a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft in May last year. | . U.S. NAVY / REUTERS

By Jesse Johnson
Staff Writer

Mar 12, 2016

China is set to begin operating civilian flights to a disputed island in the South China Sea within a year, state media reported Friday as Beijing ramps up infrastructure development in the contested waters.

The official Xinhua News Agency quoted Xiao Jie, a top Communist Party official.

Xiao, mayor of Sansha City on Woody Island, which is located in the contested Paracel archipelago, said flights will be to and from Sansha.

China plans to begin civilian flights to, from disputed South China Sea isles

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