China plans garrison to 'defend' disputed islands The garrison, approved by the Central Military Commission, "will be responsible for the Sansha area national defence mobilisation and reserve forces activities," the defence ministry said on its website. China and South Vietnam once administered different parts of the Paracels but after a brief conflict in 1974 Beijing took control of the entire group of islands. Vietnam holds several of the larger Spratly Islands. China says it owns much of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia each claim portions. Disputes have flared in recent weeks, with Vietnam and the Philippines criticising what they call Chinese encroachment. In June, the state-backed China National Offshore Oil Corporation announced it was welcoming bids to explore oil blocks in the disputed waters, a week after Vietnam adopted a law placing the Spratlys under its sovereignty. A July 13 meeting of the Association of Southeast Nations broke up without a joint statement for the first time in 45 years because members could not agree on how to refer to China's behaviour in the disputed waters. The countries are drafting a "code of conduct" to try to overcome the rift.