China’s official People’s Daily newspaper reports that the Chinese government will build rental houses in a disputed area of the South China Sea.

The daily said that the construction of 81 low-priced rental houses will be completed within one to two years.

The plan is seen as the Chinese government’s move to strengthen its effective control over its new city named “Sansha” in the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam, through improving living conditions there.

Roughly 150 people live in wood houses in Sansha.