State-owned China COSCO Shipping Corp plans to launch cruise trips in the South China Sea next month, with the first route to travel from Sanya city in the country's southeast to the disputed Paracel Islands, state media reported on Tuesday. The Paracels, known as the Xisha Islands in Chinese, are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. "It is practical to stimulate the local economy through development of tourism, logistics and infrastructure facilities," the China Daily newspaper quoted the company's chairman Xu Lirong as saying at a conference over the weekend. In April, China's largest shipping company signed a contract with China National Travel Service Group Corp and China Communications Construction Co Ltd to establish a cruise company to offer tourism services in the South China Sea.

COSCO to launch cruise route in South China Sea. (2016, June 22). Malaya Business Insight, p. A9.