China has set up a tsunami alert centre in the South China Sea, the head of the country's maritime regulator said on Wednesday, in Beijing's latest effort to bolster its jurisdiction in the disputed waters.
China claims most of the energy-rich waters through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
The United States has voiced concerns about China's assertive pursuit of territory in one of the world's busiest trade routes.
The tsunami alert centre is under construction but has already begun initial operations, Wang Hong, the chief of the State Oceanic Administration told reporters on the sidelines of China's annual meeting of parliament.
