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Full coverage¹: Looking South Improving living standards for the fishermen and their families is an on-going challenge for China's newest city, Sansha. Two years ago, the city was set up to administer the island groups of Xisha, Zhongsha, and Nansha and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea. CCTV reporter Han Bin² went to Jinqing Island of the Xisha Islands, known in English as the Paracels. He was following Sansha Mayor Xiao Jie's inspection³ team the day after the city celebrated⁴ its second anniversary.

The journey to Jinqing, known as Drummond Island in English, takes hours by ship. The island is about two-tenths of a square kilometer, home to some 80 fishermen.

30-year-old Feng Ping showed us his harvest from the sea. Transport is still the biggest obstacle to the market, so he has to dry his catch before it spoils.

"Life on the island has improved a lot. Now, every family has electricity and fresh water. But just years ago, it was so hard to live here," Feng said.

The government is helping⁵ them. Last year, each family got a solar-powered generator⁶ and they use purified sea water. The Sansha government is trying to explore different ways to increase the fishermen's incomes. How to improve their lives is always on the mind of Sansha Mayor Xiao Jie.

One experiment he supports is a planting base for uninhabited islands. Jinqing residents can grow special drought-resistant plants and sell them.

"We are trying to get some fishermen into other trades, like fish farming and tourism. The government will provide subsidies⁷ for fishermen living on the island," Feng said.

Fishermen play an important role in China's strategy to boost maritime⁸ rights.

Two years on, Feng Ping hopes the establishment of Sansha as a city will make it easier to earn a living. And that Sansha's people will have more opportunities for better lives in the near future.

Mayor Xiao Jie says one priority for the Sansha government, is to make the city a proper home for its people. That means much better living conditions and infrastructure⁹. The investment in the residents' welfare and future, is the investment in protecting China's sovereignty.