National interests need protecting, southern fleet chief says
One of the top commanders in the PLA navy has called for increased efforts to exploit the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea for oil and other marine resources.
Rear Admiral Wu Shengli, commander of the navy's South China Sea fleet, said construction of infrastructure projects on the islands should be speeded up to develop tourism and help with exploration for oil and marine resources.
He said the rapid development of the strategically located islands, also known as the Nansha islands, would help safeguard national unity and protect national interests.
Admiral Wu made the remarks at a panel discussion meeting attended by People's Liberation Army deputies to the National People's Congress on Sunday, China Central Television reported.
The meeting was presided over by top PLA officers, including Guo Boxiong, deputy chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Xu Caihou, head of the military's General Political Department.
Admiral Wu's remarks suggest Beijing intends to press ahead with plans to develop the Spratlys group, a collection of about 100 islands, islets and reefs claimed by the mainland, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines.