Beijing moves to strengthen its hold on disputed islands in the South China Sea

REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters

• New administrative units for the Paracel and Spratly Islands are seen as helping to tighten Chinese control and help allocate resources and manpower.
• But there are multiple competing claims in the areas in question, and the move risks further tension with the US.
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Beijing has moved to tighten its grip over the South China Sea by setting up new administrative structures in the disputed waters.

The two new districts will be under the authority of the local government in Sansha, a city in the southern island of Hainan.

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NOW WATCH: Here's why so many nations want to control the South China Sea — and what China wants to do

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