Waves crash against the coastline of Yongxing Island in this photo taken on May 16, 2012. Yongxing Island, which was formed by white coral shells that piled on the reefs and covered 2.13 square kilometers, is the largest of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. The government of Sansha, a prefecture-level city in Hainan Province, is located on the island. Government buildings line Beijing Road on the island along with banks, shops, and an airport, which was built in 1991, with a 2,350 meter runway that can handle Boeing 737 aircraft or planes of similar size arriving on Yongxing Island. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

The silhouette of soldiers with their guns on the white sandy beaches of Yongxing Island, in this photo taken on May 16, 2012. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]