Free Republic

China has “enforced maritime management and exercised sovereign jurisdiction” over an uninhabited reef in the disputed South China Sea, planting the country’s flag on the tiny sand bank just kilometers from a key Philippine military outpost. Photographs released by Chinese state-run media on Saturday showed China Coast Guard officers unfurling the flag as part of an effort to effectively seize Sandy Cay reef, which Beijing calls Tiexian Jiao, earlier this month. The reef, located in the flash point Spratly Island chain, is also claimed by Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Sandy Cay also sits just over 3 kilometers from Thitu...

thr 110 Majlis-Economic Zones /ECO/ Majlis studies bill on new Special Economic Zones Tehran, April 30, IRNA -- The Parliament is expected to approve the general outlines of the bill on establishment special economic zones by May 21, Tuesday edition of the English-language newspaper `Iran Daily' said quoting a member of the Majlis Economic Commission Iraj Nadimi. Nadimi said that the bill, which is being debated by the Majlis, will encourage domestic production, establish trade ties with foreign countries, improve the economy, help bring in new technology, promote exports, generate jobs, attract investment and transit of goods, Iran Daily...