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New Chinese supply ship now operating in disputed waters

7th January 2015 - 06:00 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Hong Kong

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A new Chinese supply ship has sailed her maiden voyage to supply the city of Sansha and to help reinforce China’s presence in the disputed region.

Although she’s a civilian vessel, Sansha 1 will 'underpin China’s efforts to defend its blue territory and safeguard its interests in the sea', according to the Xinhua News Agency’s quotation of Sansha’s mayor, Xiao Jie.

China formally established the city of Sansha on Yongxing (Woody Island) in July 2012, which is home to approximately 1,000 people and a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) garrison, to help administer its claimed territories in the South China

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