China plans first regular civilian cruises to disputed Spratlys by 2020

The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) (R) conduct dual aircraft carrier strike group operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific in the Philippine Sea on June 18, 2016. Courtesy Jake Greenberg/U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will offer its first regular civilian cruises to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea by 2020, state media said on Wednesday, a move likely to irk other claimants to the disputed waters.

China's activities in the contested area, such as building artificial islands, airfields and other military facilities, have fuelled tension in Southeast Asia, although it says most of the construction is for civilian purposes.