Media reports regarding the central government's approval of investment totaling 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) for the construction of Sansha City have hit a nerve in the Philippines. Philippine media claimed China "had started reinforcing its claim on the disputed islands in the South China Sea" by supporting the construction of the new city with considerable investment.

Since June 21, when Sansha City was officially established at a ceremony, it has been protested against by the Philippines and Vietnam. The two employed various excuses to attack China's move to safeguard its territory and interests, demanding China repent its "wrongdoings." However, their actions barely had any practical influence.

The disputes in the South China Sea have intensified as Vietnam and the Philippines have been seeking to break the status quo by provocatively developing the area. Establishing Sansha City is China's reaction to their provocations. China is now securing its sovereignty.

Establishing the city is the first step, followed by the immediate task of developing Sansha into a solid frontier to protect China's territory, which includes islands and undersea atolls in the South China Sea region.

Recent media reports quoted Jiang Dingzhi, the governor of Hainan Province saying that the Chinese central government's $1.6 billion in support for Sansha was to be used for infrastructure facilities including airports, ports, piers.

It will also go toward law enforcement vessels and other projects to provide a platform for Sansha's future development.

More investments are reportedly in the works.

The plan and pace of the city's development won't be interrupted by external protests.

Given the fact that Sansha is a special city safeguarding China's maritime sovereignty, both the central government and local government are exploring suitable models for the city's development.

Due to difficult local conditions, equipping the city with the necessary infrastructure is costly and requires a certain period of time. The resolve to build Sansha is firm. It sends the message that China will not only respond to any provocation but will be proactive.