A training camp was set up on Monday by a Chinese non-governmental group for civilians to sail to the Diaoyu Islands to proclaim China's sovereignty on the disputed territory.
  
Some 20 civilians from the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Hubei were enrolled by the camp in the Xiamen Oceanology Vocational School, which was set up by the preparatory committee of the Federation of Chinese Non-governmental Organizations for Defending Sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands.
  
The trainees will spend a week learning basic sea skills, such as rescue, survival and fire fighting and will practice as well.
  
"Sailors may face many unexpected risks on the voyage to the Diaoyu Islands, so they must learn survival skills," said Li Yiqiang, in charge of the committee in Xiamen.
  
The actions by Chinese civilians before lacked this preparation, he said.
  
According to the head of the committee, Tong Zeng, Chinese companies and the federation jointly inspected tourism resources in the sea areas off the Diaoyu Islands in January. They will sail to the islands again at the end of March.
  
As a territory of China, the Diaoyu Islands have rich resources for tourism development. The federation is discussing tourist business with a travel agency in Fujian at the moment. The first tourist route to Diaoyu Islands would be open in May, said Tong.
  
Located in the East China Sea between China and Japan, about 120 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan, the Diaoyu Islands have belonged to China since ancient times. Actions by Chinese civilians have been continuing since Japan began to claim the territory. 

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2004)