读卖新闻 中国靠旅游显示南海诸岛主权

中国和越南在帕拉塞尔群岛（中国称西沙群岛，越南称黄沙群岛）上的摩擦可能加大，因为中国有动作吸引富裕的游客前往这些位于南中国海的岛屿，而中越两国都宣称对这些岛屿的主权。

　　海南省旅游局最近批准了一个发展南中国海岛屿（当中包括帕拉塞尔群岛）观光业务的项目，着手扩大团体旅游业务。

　　同时，越南已经向这些有争议的岛屿发动它自己的观光旅游业。

　　中国以发展旅游之名加强对这些岛屿的有效控制，此举可能触怒越南。

　　距海南省约300公里的永兴岛（Yunghsing Island）是帕拉塞尔群岛的主岛。

　　中国在几年前开始组织那里的观光旅游业务，动用了中国的军队和政府船只。三天四夜游的价格大约是人民币4000到5000元。

　　根据海南省某大型旅行社的说法，在过去两年，参加观光的4000名左右的旅客中，大部分是富裕的私企老板或国有公司的高级执行官。

　　中国《工人日报（Workers' Daily）》报道说，2.1平方公里的永兴岛珊瑚环绕，深受海上运动爱好者的欢迎。该岛有一条飞机跑道，两个可以容纳5000吨船的码头。

　　中国政府显然认为帕拉塞尔群岛兴旺的旅游业将推进南中国海诸岛的全面开发。

　　《工人日报》援引一位省官员的话说，旅游业可以给帕拉塞尔群岛带来重大的经济好处，而且显示中国对南中国海诸岛的整体主权。（作者 Satoshi Saeki）（原题：中国游客“吞并”帕拉塞尔群岛）

Chinese tourists 'annex' Paracels

Satoshi Saeki / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

Friction between China and Vietnam over the Paracel Islands is likely to increase as China moves to lure well-heeled tourists to the islands in the South China Sea, which are claimed by the two countries.

The Tourist Bureau of the Hainan provincial government, which recently approved a project to develop tourism in the South China Sea Islands, which include the Paracels, has embarked on the expansion of group tour operations.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has already launched its own sightseeing trips to the disputed isles.

China's move to strengthen its effective control over the islands in the name of tourism development is likely to anger Vietnam.

Yunghsing Island, located about 300 kilometers off Hainan Province, is the main island of the Paracels.

China started organized sightseeing tours there several years ago, using both Chinese military and government vessels.

A three-day, four-night tour costs between 4,000 yuan (64,000 yen) and 5,000 yuan (80,000 yen).

According to a major travel agency in Hainan Province, most of the 4,000 or so tourists who have participated in the sightseeing tours in the past two years were well-to-do private entrepreneurs or senior executives of state-owned companies.

According to the Chinese newspaper Workers' Daily, the 2.1-square-kilometer, coral-fringed Yunghsing Island is a popular destination for marine sports enthusiasts.

The island boasts an airstrip and two piers that can accommodate vessels with a capacity of up to 5,000 tons.

The Chinese government apparently believes that boosting tourism in the Paracels will promote the full-scale development of the South China Sea Islands.

Workers' Daily quoted a provincial government official who said tourism would bring about major economic benefits to the Paracels and also signal Chinese sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands as a whole.