China to name territorial islands

China is planning to name the country's nameless islands and islets, according to an official newspaper with the State Oceanic Administration.

The administration has also ordered provincial authorities to complete local island census and compile information with names and locations of the islands and islets by the end of April 2013, the newspaper said Tuesday.

As of the end of last year, China had given official names to 1,660 islands and placed marks, such as stone tablets, on these territories, the newspaper said. The naming and marking of another 1,664 islands will be completed by August next year.

The newspaper quoted an unnamed official with the administration as saying that the naming and marking work is China claiming its sovereignty over these islands.

Since many of the country's islets are nameless or without a uniform official name, the naming work will help authorities better ascertain the number and locations of such islets, the official said.

According to the official, China has more than 7,300 islands measuring 500 square meters or larger.