Sunday, May 29, 2016

China Promoting Tourism for Disputed Paracel Islands

The area of the South China Sea has been a region of dispute and strategic importance for both China and the United States in recent years, and it has been heating up lately. Recently, an incident between a US ship and a Chinese plane almost ended in a collision. However, now China seems to be taking a different approach; the Chinese government has started endorsing cruises and tourism around their Paracel Islands. They have been advertising the islands and beaches of these islands as cleaner and more serene than beaches on China's southern border, as well as a less expensive romantic getaway for couples seeking tropical location vacations. The cruises, which are only open to those with Chinese passports, also incorporate a flair of nationalism, with events such as a "national flag raising ceremony". This new tactic is an interesting new approach to the dispute of the area.

-Sarah Beck
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/world/asia/south-china-sea-tourism.html?ref=world&_r=0

No comments: