Beijing looks for social workers for posts on disputed South China Sea islands
Job adverts for ‘community workers’ say military veterans and Communist Party members will be favoured for the positions
According to a notice published on Monday, the government of Sansha, the authority set up to administer the disputed territories, said it was looking for 11 “community workers” to post on eight reefs and islands in the Paracel and the Spratly islands.
The notice was unclear about the nature of the roles, but it suggested they would play a role in day-to-day governance. Beijing recruited 16 people to similar positions in 2023.
It added that candidates should be aged between 18 and 35 years old, have a college degree and be “dedicated to island and community service”.
It said they should also be able to cope with long-term postings in “remote maritime locations”, which required exceptional physical and psychological adaptability.
The notice also said that applicants needed to “demonstrate strong organisational and interpersonal skills, relevant professional knowledge, a heart for public service, and a genuine commitment to grass-roots community work and long-term residence on the islands”.