Development won't harm neighbors: Official

China yesterday brushed off concerns that its plans to develop its southernmost island Hainan province would worsen a territorial dispute with its neighbors.

In a government document giving guidelines and granting favorable policies, the government said "active and steady" efforts will be made to open Xisha islands to tourists and develop tourism on uninhabited islands in an orderly manner.

Meanwhile, Hainan will be developed into a "resource and service base in the South China Sea", with national strategic oil reserve bases to be planned there.