Sansha

{{See also|Woody Island (South China Sea)#History|l1=History of Woody Island}}

File:永兴岛 - panoramio.jpg

In March 1953, as talks were proceeding with the French on the handing over of Hainan and territories south of Guangdong to the People's Republic of China, the Chinese State Council authorized the establishment of a separate "Guangdong Province Paracels, Spratlys, and Zhongsha Islands Authority" as a county-level administrative division on Woody Island (Yongxing Dao). However, the island continued to support a threadbare population of fisherfolk at that time.{{cite web |title = China's Jurisdiction over the South China Sea |url = http://www.bjreview.com.cn/Cover_Stories_Series_2012/2012-07/03/content_464506.htm |publisher=Beijing Review }} In March 1959, this authority was upgraded to an administrative office in the name of "Guangdong Province Paracels, Spratlys, and Zhongsha Islands Revolutionary Committee". In October 1984, the administration of Sansha consisting of Yongxing Dao (Woody Island) and other islands in the South China sea was transferred to Hainan. This coincided with the establishment of Hainan as a separate administrative region. In September 1988, the authority's name was officially changed to the "Hainan Province Paracels, Spratlys, and Zhongsha Islands Authority". On 25 December 2006, Woody Island 'census-town's' first-ever "Residents' and Fishermen's Congress" was held. Three representatives at the township and village levels were selected to represent the census-town's Neighborhood Committee of the North and South Villages. The Neighborhood Committee began work on Woody Island the following day with an office at the Border Guards of the Paracels' Police Station. These were the first ever actual subdivisions created within the county-level authority.

The prospect of the establishment of a "city" on Woody Island was first publicized on 19 November 2007 in a report by Mingpao, a Hong Kong-based newspaper, through a telephone interview with a Mr. Zhang of the Propaganda Department of Wenchang, Hainan. This report claimed that a county-level city was to be established by the PRC State Council in November 2007 to administer three disputed archipelagos in the South China Sea:{{cite news |url=http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=299411&selected=Analyses |title=Vietnam, China: The Dispute over Significant Waterways |work=Free Intelligence Reports |publisher=Stratfor |date=4 December 2007 |access-date=8 December 2007}}{{dead link|date=June 2014}} the Paracel Islands, Macclesfield Bank (Zhongsha Islands) and the Spratly Islands. This was to replace the county-level "Paracels, Spratlys, and Zhongsha Islands Authority". The city of Wenchang would provide{{vague|date=October 2014}} supplies and logistics to the to-be-established city.

On 23 July 2012, the PRC Central Military Commission announced it had authorized the People's Liberation Army Guangzhou Military Command to form a "garrison command" in Sansha City. The troops would be responsible for managing the city's national defence mobilisation, military reserve, and carrying out military operations.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-18949941 |title=China approves military garrison for disputed islands |work=BBC News |date=23 July 2012 |access-date=18 May 2020}}

On 24 July 2012, the PRC officially established the city of Sansha in Yongxing Island.{{cite news |url= http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-07/24/c_131734893.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120724180430/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-07/24/c_131734893.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 24 July 2012 |title=China establishes Sansha City |date=24 July 2012 |publisher=Xinhua |access-date=24 July 2012}}

Sansha City has two districts, Xisha District and Nansha District. Xisha District administers the Xisha and Zhongsha Islands and their surrounding waters, with the district government located on Yongxing Town. Nansha District administers the Nansha Islands and their surrounding waters, with the district government located on Yongshu Jiao.

Sansha is governed by a

municipal congress of 60 delegates directly elected, with a standing committee of 15 members.{{cite web |title=Sansha government |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-07/17/c_131721193.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729062544/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-07/17/c_131721193.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 July 2012 |date= 17 July 2012 |publisher=Xinhua Net |access-date=8 August 2012}} It is further subdivided into 2 districts at county-level, 3 towns/management committees at the township-level, and further into 11 residential communities at village-level, based on the island groups:

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Sansha (Xisha District), elevation {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals)

|Jan high C = 26.4

|Feb high C = 27.1

|Mar high C = 29.0

|Apr high C = 30.7

|May high C = 31.7

|Jun high C = 31.8

|Jul high C = 31.4

|Aug high C = 31.3

|Sep high C = 31.0

|Oct high C = 30.0

|Nov high C = 28.6

|Dec high C = 26.9

|Jan mean C = 23.8

|Feb mean C = 24.3

|Mar mean C = 26.1

|Apr mean C = 28.0

|May mean C = 29.3

|Jun mean C = 29.7

|Jul mean C = 29.3

|Aug mean C = 29.1

|Sep mean C = 28.6

|Oct mean C = 27.6

|Nov mean C = 26.5

|Dec mean C = 24.8

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = 22.3

|Feb low C = 22.6

|Mar low C = 24.3

|Apr low C = 26.1

|May low C = 27.5

|Jun low C = 28.1

|Jul low C = 27.6

|Aug low C = 27.4

|Sep low C = 26.6

|Oct low C = 25.6

|Nov low C = 25.0

|Dec low C = 23.4

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 18.3

|Feb precipitation mm = 9.4

|Mar precipitation mm = 17.2

|Apr precipitation mm = 67.7

|May precipitation mm = 109.4

|Jun precipitation mm = 102.9

|Jul precipitation mm = 205.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 205.5

|Sep precipitation mm = 251.0

|Oct precipitation mm = 263.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 126.2

|Dec precipitation mm = 69.3

|Jan humidity = 78

|Feb humidity = 80

|Mar humidity = 79

|Apr humidity = 79

|May humidity = 80

|Jun humidity = 81

|Jul humidity = 82

|Aug humidity = 82

|Sep humidity = 82

|Oct humidity = 80

|Nov humidity = 80

|Dec humidity = 79

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 7.8

|Feb precipitation days = 4.6

|Mar precipitation days = 3.5

|Apr precipitation days = 4.7

|May precipitation days = 8.0

|Jun precipitation days = 9.1

|Jul precipitation days = 10.3

|Aug precipitation days = 12.1

|Sep precipitation days = 15.1

|Oct precipitation days = 17.0

|Nov precipitation days = 13.8

|Dec precipitation days = 13.8

|year precipitation days =

|Jan sun = 198.3

|Feb sun = 210.1

|Mar sun = 260.2

|Apr sun = 269.9

|May sun = 277.6

|Jun sun = 256.6

|Jul sun = 251.0

|Aug sun = 238.3

|Sep sun = 210.8

|Oct sun = 207.3

|Nov sun = 175.1

|Dec sun = 149.0

|year sun =

| Jan percentsun = 57

| Feb percentsun = 64

| Mar percentsun = 70

| Apr percentsun = 72

| May percentsun = 69

| Jun percentsun = 65

| Jul percentsun = 63

| Aug percentsun = 61

| Sep percentsun = 58

| Oct percentsun = 57

| Nov percentsun = 52

| Dec percentsun = 43

| year percentsun =

|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans |access-date=10 October 2023}}

{{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网|publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans | access-date =10 October 2023}}

}}

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = Sansha (Pattle Island), elevation {{convert|4|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals)

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|collapsed = Y

|Jan high C = 26.8

|Feb high C = 27.9

|Mar high C = 30.0

|Apr high C = 31.8

|May high C = 32.9

|Jun high C = 33.0

|Jul high C = 32.5

|Aug high C = 32.1

|Sep high C = 31.5

|Oct high C = 30.3

|Nov high C = 28.8

|Dec high C = 27.1

|year high C =

|Jan mean C = 23.9

|Feb mean C = 24.4

|Mar mean C = 26.2

|Apr mean C = 28.1

|May mean C = 29.5

|Jun mean C = 29.9

|Jul mean C = 29.3

|Aug mean C = 29.0

|Sep mean C = 28.3

|Oct mean C = 27.4

|Nov mean C = 26.3

|Dec mean C = 24.8

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = 22.2

|Feb low C = 22.5

|Mar low C = 24.1

|Apr low C = 25.8

|May low C = 27.2

|Jun low C = 27.8

|Jul low C = 27.2

|Aug low C = 26.9

|Sep low C = 26.0

|Oct low C = 25.3

|Nov low C = 24.7

|Dec low C = 23.2

|year low C =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 22.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 9.9

|Mar precipitation mm = 13.2

|Apr precipitation mm = 60.3

|May precipitation mm = 86.8

|Jun precipitation mm = 91.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 178.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 195.7

|Sep precipitation mm = 240.6

|Oct precipitation mm = 236.6

|Nov precipitation mm = 146.9

|Dec precipitation mm = 86.3

|year precipitation mm =

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 8.7

|Feb precipitation days = 5.3

|Mar precipitation days = 4.1

|Apr precipitation days = 4.8

|May precipitation days = 7.6

|Jun precipitation days = 7.3

|Jul precipitation days = 9.1

|Aug precipitation days = 10.1

|Sep precipitation days = 14.3

|Oct precipitation days = 16.3

|Nov precipitation days = 14.3

|Dec precipitation days = 14.5

|year precipitation days =

| Jan humidity = 80

| Feb humidity = 82

| Mar humidity = 82

| Apr humidity = 82

| May humidity = 83

| Jun humidity = 83

| Jul humidity = 84

| Aug humidity = 86

| Sep humidity = 86

| Oct humidity = 84

| Nov humidity = 84

| Dec humidity = 81

| year humidity =

|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans |access-date=10 October 2023}}

{{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网|publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans | access-date =10 October 2023}}

}}

{{See also|Yongxing Island Airport|List of airports in the Spratly Islands}}

The Sansha city has a registered population of 621 (as per 2020){{cite web|url=http://www.sansha.gov.cn/sansha/ssgk/ssgk.shtml|title=市情_三沙市人民政府网}} and a resident population of around 1,800, in addition to an unknown number of military garrison personnels. They tend to practice fishing, and selling products to the occasional cruise ship (MV Qionghai 3 and MV Sansha 1) whose tourists visit the island. In November 2016, the Hainan government started to allow large companies to register themselves in Sansha, by providing extensive tax benefits to them. This resulted in 157 large national and multinational companies registering themselves in Sansha.{{cite news |title=China's Sansha Island draws world's largest companies |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-11/24/c_135855349.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104125903/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-11/24/c_135855349.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2018 |access-date=1 June 2018 |publisher=Xinhua |date=24 November 2016}}

In 2016, a government school and a public library were opened in the island, primarily for children of the islanders.{{cite news |title=China's southernmost school opens inc |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-09/02/c_135654567.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412000441/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-09/02/c_135654567.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2023 |access-date=1 June 2018 |publisher=Xinhua |date=2 November 2016}}{{cite news |title=First library opened in Sansha in South China Sea |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/21/c_135300808.htm |access-date=1 June 2018 |publisher=Xinhua |date=21 April 2016}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In the same year, a desalinating plant was established to provide drinking water to the island's residents.{{cite news |title=New desalinator put into use in China's Sansha |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-10/02/c_135729180.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412000437/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-10/02/c_135729180.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2023 |access-date=1 June 2018 |publisher=Xinhua |date=2 November 2016}}

Airports are built on several islands under Sansha City, including Yongxing Island, Meiji Island, Yongshu Island and Zhubi Island, all of which have runways longer than {{convert|2700|m|yd}} and are suitable for planes sizing up to 4E standards, theoretically capable of landing Boeing 777s as diversion airports. In practice, only the Yongxing Island Airport see scheduled commercial services, onboard Boeing 737 operated by Hainan Airlines.{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/hu7417|title=Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map|last=Flightradar24|website=Flightradar24|language=en|access-date=2019-03-28}} The other airports are for military use only.

{{see also|Great Wall of Sand}}

The second stage of a greening project for Sansha was announced on 30 June 2014.{{cite web |url= http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-07/30/c_133520232.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140913172536/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-07/30/c_133520232.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 13 September 2014 |title= China Focus: South China islands see green transformation |date= 30 July 2014 |access-date= 13 September 2014 |work= news.xinhuanet.com}} It states: "According to the investment plan, 18 million yuan (about 2.92 million U.S. dollars) will be used to build desalination systems and grow trees on Xishazhou Island (West Sand - NW Crescent Group) in the hope of turning the island into a new oasis." The article makes references to the greening of:

• Ganquan Island (Robert Island) - W Crescent Group between Antelope Reef and Pattle Island, where an environmental protection station was set up in February 2014
• Jinqin (Drummond Island) - E Crescent Group
• Lingyangjiao (Antelope Reef) - W Crescent Group between Money and Robert Islands
• Xishazhou Island (West Sand) - NW Crescent Group
• Yagong Island - NE Crescent Group, between Tree Island and Observation Bank
• Yinyu (Observation Bank / Silver Islet) - NE Crescent Group
• Yongxing Island (Woody Island) - Centre of Amphitrite group
• Zhaoshu (Tree Island) - N Crescent Group

It also mentions substantial infrastructure upgrades to Woody Island, including waste-water treatment, garbage aggregation and treatment, desalination (1 million litres/day) and upgrades to photovoltaic equipment.

Because Sansha's jurisdiction comprises island groups that several nations besides the PRC claim as their own, the "city" is considered by some as controversial.

In 2007, the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam protested against the city's proposed establishment, which had been recently{{cite web | url = http://www.rfa.org/vietnamese/in_depth/rare-vn-demo-over-sea-dispute-with-cn-06052011093311.html | title = Hà Nội và Sài Gòn biểu tình chống Trung Quốc | access-date = 18 July 2015 | publisher = Đài Á Châu Tự do | language = vi}} approved by the PRC's State Council, as Vietnam claims two of the three island groups that comprise Sansha.{{cite web | url=http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/tt_baochi/pbnfn/ns071204135539 | title=Vietnam objects to China's establishment of San Sha city on the Hainan Island |work= Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesman Mr. Le Dzung answers questions on 3 December 2007 | publisher=Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs | date=3 December 2007 | access-date=7 August 2012}} This was later followed by student demonstrations at the Chinese embassy in Hanoi, and at a consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.{{cite news | url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/IL20Ad01.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513205751/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/IL20Ad01.html | url-status=unfit | archive-date=13 May 2008 | title=China, Vietnam churn diplomatic waters | work=Asia Times Online | date=20 December 2007 | access-date=7 August 2012 | author=Symon, Andrew}}

Days prior to the official establishment of the city in late July 2012, Vietnam again stated its opposition and was joined in its protests by the Philippines.

• For Vietnamese stated opposition, see {{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/press-digest-vietnam-idUSL3E8HM0CW20120622 | title=REFILE-PRESS DIGEST – Vietnam newspapers – 22 June | work=Reuters | date=21 June 2012 | access-date=7 August 2012}}
• For Philippines stated opposition, see {{cite web |url=http://english.sina.com/world/2012/0705/483699.html |title=Philippines summons Chinese ambassador to protest Sansha city |publisher=Sina |date=6 July 2012 |access-date=24 July 2012}} The United States Department of State also weighed in on the issue stating, "we remain concerned should there be any unilateral moves of this kind that would seem to prejudge an issue."{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2012/07/195425.htm#CHINA |title=Victoria Nuland, Spokesperson: Daily Press Briefing, Washington, DC, July 24, 2012 |publisher=United States Department of State |date=24 July 2012 |access-date=27 July 2012}} The chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, Jim Webb, also made a statement regarding Sansha and questioned whether the city's creation was a violation of international law.{{cite web |url=http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2012-07-25-03.cfm |title=Senator Webb: China's military and governmental expansion into South China Sea might be a "Violation of International Law" |publisher=United States Senate |date=25 July 2012 |access-date=27 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215031546/http://www.webb.senate.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2012-07-25-03.cfm | archive-date=15 December 2012}} While Senator Webb stated that the establishment of Sansha was China "creating a governmental system out of nothing", the Chinese government has included the island groups that comprise Sansha in its administrative structure since 1959.{{cite web |publisher=CCTV |date= 5 August 2012 |url= http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20120805/103205.shtml | title=China opposes US statement on S. China Sea | access-date=7 August 2012}} Before these island groups were under the nominal administration of Sansha, they were nominally administered by an administrative office under the provincial government of Hainan.

Western reaction to the 2012 declaration of the Chinese government elevating the administrative status of Sansha was not positive. The United States Department of State called the change in the administrative status of the territory "unilateral", and the move has received criticism from nations engaged in the South China Sea dispute, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam.

The centre of government for Sansha is located on Woody Island (Yongxing Dao) in the Paracels,{{cite conference | url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/north-east-asia/229-stirring-up-the-south-china-sea-ii-regional-responses | title=Stirring up the South China Sea (II): Regional responses |work= Asia Report N°229 | publisher=International Crisis Group | access-date=7 August 2012 |date=July 2012 | pages=5}} where about 1,000 Chinese (PRC) reside.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-southchinasea-idUSBRE86O1P020120725 | title=China's hawks gaining sway in South China sea dispute | work=Reuters | date=25 July 2012 | access-date=7 August 2012 | author=Lague, David | location=Hong Kong}} With a land area of 210ha, Woody Island is the largest contiguous land area in the South China Sea.Pratas Island has an area of 240ha, but this includes a 60ha lagoon. The total land area of Sansha, which includes the islands in the Paracel and Spratly groups, is less than {{convert|5|sqmi}}.USA Today, [https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-07-12/usa-china/56161318/1 Tiny island in South China Sea is stirring up tensions], Calum MacLeod, 12 July 2012 Nationally, Sansha is the smallest prefecture-level city, by both population and land area, but the largest by total area,{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/news/article/China-dubs-tiny-island-new-city-in-sea-claim-bid-3729523.php |title=China dubs tiny island new city in sea claim bid |author=Alexa Olesen (Associated Press) |date=24 July 2012 |access-date= 24 July 2012 |work=chron.com}}{{dead link|date=June 2014}} and is also the southernmost prefecture-level city of the PRC.

By January 2016, work was well advanced on developing a military base with a large harbour and a {{convert|2644|m}} runway, with the reclaimed land covering {{convert|558|ha}}.{{cite web |url= http://amti.csis.org/airstrips-near-completion/ |title= Airstrips near Completion |publisher=Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative |date=January 2016 |access-date=2016-01-30}} A civilian test flight to the runway was conducted by a China Southern Airlines passenger jet on 13 July 2016.{{cite news | url= http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2016-07/13/c_135510656.htm | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160714030009/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2016-07/13/c_135510656.htm | url-status= dead | archive-date= 14 July 2016 | title= China conducts test flights on two new airports on Nansha Islands | newspaper= Xinhua |access-date= 2016-07-14}} On 16 February 2016, the New York Times reported that China had deployed HQ‑9 surface‑to‑air missiles on the island.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/world/asia/china-missiles-south-china-sea.html |title=Missiles Deployed on Disputed South China Sea Island, Officials Say |work=The New York Times |date=17 February 2016 |page=A6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218154756/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/world/asia/china-missiles-south-china-sea.html |archive-date=18 February 2016 |url-status=live |first1=Michael |last1=Forsythe |first2=Jonathan |last2=Soble |first3=Mark |last3=Landler |first4=Yufan |last4=Huang |first5=Mia |last5=Li |issn=0362-4331}}

In late 2016, photographs emerged which suggested that Mischief Reef was armed with anti-aircraft weapons and a CIWS missile-defence system.{{cite web |url= https://amti.csis.org/chinas-new-spratly-island-defenses/ |title= China's New Spratly Island Defenses |publisher= Center for Strategic and International Studies |date= 2016-12-13 |access-date= 2016-12-17}} In May 2018, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, said satellite images showed China had deployed new military weapon platforms to Woody Island, the largest of the Paracels.

{{Portal|China}}

• Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China
• South China Sea Islands
• James Shoal
• Macclesfield Bank
• Paracel Islands
• Scarborough Shoal
• Spratly Islands
• Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
• Kalayaan, Palawan, Philippines
• Trường Sa, Khánh Hòa, Vietnam

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.sansha.gov.cn Sansha Government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124054815/http://www.sansha.gov.cn/ |date=24 January 2017 }} {{in lang|zh-cn}}
• [https://archive.today/20121127061700/http://en.hainan.gov.cn/englishgov/AboutHaiNan/200904/t20090419_1366.html Administrative divisions of Hainan Province]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071117131114/http://xnzsha.hainan.gov.cn/ Hainan Province Paracels, Spratlys, and Zhongsha Islands Authority]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080412060318/http://yjs.hainan.gov.cn/web/2001/main/sx_01_21.htm Hainan Province Paracels, Spratlys, and Zhongsha Islands Authority Woody Island Census Town]
• [http://www.xzqh.org/quhua/46hn/9037.htm Subdivision Information of the Hainan Province Paracels, Spratlys, and Zhongsha Islands Authority]
• [http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/305969/us-criticises-china-garrison US criticises China garrison]
• [https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=cmsi-maritime-reports Sansha City in China's South China Sea Strategy: Building a System of Administrative Control ]

{{South China Sea}}

{{Sansha topics}}

{{Hainan topics}}

{{Hainan}}

{{Metropolitan cities of China}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}

Category:2012 establishments in China

Category:States and territories established in 2012

Category:Prefecture-level divisions of Hainan