China is facing serious challenges to its maritime rights, with its resources being plundered and seas carved up, a senior oceanic official said Friday.

Some islands have been encroached on and the security of strategic thoroughfares is threatened. Various conflicts have occurred in China’s waters, said Liu Cigui, director of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), according to the SOA’s official website.

Liu made the remarks while delivering a speech at the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

China boasts a mainland coastline of more than 18,000 km and island coastline of more than 14,000 km.

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