China deploys garrison to Tree Island in Paracel Islands

On March 9, Xinhua News Agency quoted information from the police force of the Border Police Department of the so-called Sansha City, saying that since March 8, 2015, China has officially deployed garrison forces to Zhaoshu Island (Tree Island) - which it is illegally occupying.

China brings supplies to Tree Island to build a settlement, November 2014. Photo: Xinhua.

The main purpose of this, according to the Chinese side's statement, is to protect China's sovereignty over Zhaoshu Island, the reefs and sandbanks in the North Central and South regions and the waters surrounding the island.

Cay Island is a coral island in the An Vinh group of islands in the Paracel Islands. Cay Island is located about 9.2 nautical miles (17 km) north-northwest of Phu Lam Island and 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east of Con Cat Tay. Currently, China is illegally occupying this island.

Vietnam has repeatedly stated that it has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, and has protested and demanded that China immediately end such wrongful actions.

Any action by China to illegally build and expand structures and bring people to these archipelagos not only seriously violates Vietnam's sovereignty, but also violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between China and ASEAN.

According to Vietnam+