A senior engineer from China's largest ship and ocean engineering research institute wants to see a major transport hub built in the South China Sea, which he said lacks sufficient infrastructure and is hindering economic development in the region.

Yan Kai, deputy director of the China Ship Scientific Research Center affiliated with the China Shipbuilding Industry Corp, said infrastructure in the South China Sea must improve in order to safeguard the nation's interests.

Yan also singled out the importance of establishing an airport in light of this weekend's disappearance of a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777.