Beijing already established a desalination plant in Sansha city, a prefecture-level city formed in 2012. This is to administer a number of islands and atolls as well as those claimed by Beijing's maritime neighbours in the area.
The desalination plant was put into use on Yongxing Island of Sansha City with over 1,000-tonne-a-day to meet the freshwater need of people on the said island.
The desalination equipment is capable of treating 1000 tones of seawater per day and 700 tones of processed water is potable.
China has already developed the area with schools, offices and other administrative infrastructure headed by local government and is a disputed region with rival claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
Knowing that the China's historic claims over the region has struck down when an international tribunal formed following the Philippines petition over the SCS.
However, Beijing rejected the verdict and continues to consolidate its hold over the area.
