Southern Sea Cruises, a joint company established in April by COSCO, China’s state-owned travel agency China National Travel Service and the China Communications Construction Company will offer 4-day cruises in the South China Sea, departing at the port of Sanya and calling at Yongle Qundao island. The latter belongs to the Paracel (Xisha) islands in the Hainan Strait which are also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

It is believed that the cruise operation is mainly targeted to Chinese patriots since all passengers must be Chinese mainland citizens. The venture according to “China Daily” also aims at “stimulating the local economy”, another word for manifesting China’s claim for the various reefs and islands halfway between China’s Hainan island and Vietnam. Southern Sea Cruises will deploy the NAN HAI ZHI MENG, a car and passenger ferry built in 2011 as the QING HAI ZHI MENG. A similar service is also offered by Hainan Strait Shipping since 2013.