China plans new patrol in disputed South China Sea

 BEIJING, Jan 21 (AFP): China will set up new civilian patrols with a 5,000-tonne vessel in the disputed South China Sea, state-run media said on Tuesday, in another move that could inflame territorial disputes. Beijing claims much of the waters and has put a vast swathe of it under the administration of Sansha city, in the contested Paracel islands, which also hosts a military garrison.

Local authorities will "provide a 5,000-tonne patrol vessel at Sansha and gradually set up a system of three regular patrols", China Ocean News reported, citing an agreement between the city and the island province of Hainan, which oversees it.