Timeline

June 21, 2012

The State Council approves establishing Sansha as a prefecture-level city to administer the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha island groups and surrounding waters.

• July 19

The People's Liberation Army Guangzhou Military Command says the Central Military Commission has authorized forming a garrison on Sansha.

• July 24

China officially establishes the city of Sansha on Yongxing Island, with Xiao Jie elected as its first mayor.

• Aug 25

The city's first infrastructure projects get underway, including a sewage disposal factory and sewage pipe network and a waste transfer station on Xisha Islands.

•Nov 27

The Sansha government signs a strategic cooperation agreement with the China Shipbuilding Industry to help Sansha boost development of its marine industry.

• Nov 28

The city authority issues its first environmental protection declaration, stating groundwater exploration will be suspended before 2015.

• February 2013

The Sansha's city plan is submitted to the State Council for approval.

• March

Hainan provincial government says South China Sea Satellite TV and the Sansha Daily newspaper will be established within the year to report on construction, economic development and environmental protection.

• April 28

About 100 Chinese tourists embark on a four-day voyage to Xisha Islands on the Coconut Princess, the only cruise ship allowed to sail to Sansha.

• July 17

The first batch of 10 ID cards and 68 residential permits are issued to Sansha residents.

• July 19

Phase 1 of a port for civil use on Yongxing Island is completed. It has nine berths and cost about 340 million yuan ($56 million).

Wang Qian