Latest News:  
Beijing   Sunny/Cloudy    13 / 1 ℃  City Forecast

English>>Military

Chinese flotilla patrols waters near Diaoyu Islands

(Xinhua)

08:42, December 11, 2012

ZHOUSHAN WARSHIP, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- A flotilla of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy patrolled waters near the Diaoyu Islands on Monday after returning from a training exercise in the west Pacific.

The patrol marked the first time for China to confirm its naval operations in the waters near the Diaoyu Islands on the very day when the Navy warships conducted such patrol.

The flotilla, consisting of the DDG-136 Hangzhou and DDG-139 Ningbo destroyers, as well as the two frigates FFG-525 Ma'anshan and FFG-529 Zhoushan from the Navy's Donghai Fleet, passed through the Miyako Strait and entered the West Pacific for a routine training exercise on Nov. 28.

After finishing a series of training operations, the flotilla sailed through a strait near the Yonaguni and Iriomote Islands and arrived in waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands Monday morning.

According to a Xinhua reporter aboard the frigate Zhoushan, the four warships patrolled the waters in formation under rough sea conditions and weather.

Qiu Yanpeng, commander of the task force and also the Donghai Fleet's vice commander, said the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have been part of China's inherent territory since ancient times.

It is legitimate for China's Navy to patrol in waters under Chinese jurisdiction and it is the Navy's responsibility to safeguard the country's maritime territory and interests, Qiu said.

Monday's patrol in the waters near Diaoyu Islands was the third of its kind conducted since Japan stirred up tensions with China over the islands earlier this year.

Sources with the Ministry of National Defense said a seven-warship task force from the Navy's Beihai Fleet patrolled the waters near the Diaoyu Islands on Oct. 16.

In late September, Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun confirmed that Chinese naval ships carried out patrols and military training in the waters earlier that month.

A statement issued by the ministry on Monday said that China will continue naval training in the West Pacific.

The training exercise in the West Pacific was a routine exercise conducted in accordance with the Navy's annual training plan and concerned countries should respect the Chinese Navy's freedom of navigation and aviation in line with international law, it said.

We Recommend:

PLA Aerobatic Team gives warm-up performance

Airshow China 2012: Walk in the clouds

PLA Air Force stages skydiving performance

Cool aircraft, hot models are always good partners

Russian aerobatic team performs at Airshow China

WZ-10 attack helicopter at Airshow China 2012


Email|Print|Comments(Editor:燕勐、张茜)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Live-ammunition shooting training conducted in Sansha

  2. Chinese Naval ships in supply training

  3. National Geographic auctions valuable photos

  4. Spectacular images of erupting volcanoes

  5. Highlights of 2012 Toronto Motorcycle Show

  6. Skyscraper Shanghai Tower

  7. Who is the queen of micro blogs?

  8. When Weibo meets WeChat

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Long way for CNOOC after Nexen takeover approval
  2. More translations needed for Chinese literature
  3. Commentary: Western powers should drop bias
  4. Stock market needs regulation, not promotion
  5. BRICS economies are not fading
  6. Debate over gaokao policy heats up
  7. A survey on lunch in Beijing's primary schools
  8. China on course for stable growth: JP Morgan
  9. School needs be responsible for teachers' behaviors
  10. Big burden seen in 'irrational' property tax

What’s happening in China

Cumquat market in S China's Guangxi

  1. Online name-calling not equal to public opinion
  2. Award puts Chinese books on world stage
  3. Pawnshops re-emerge with friendlier look
  4. Chief sacked, accused of giving 2 mistresses jobs
  5. 17 punished after 2 men die in demolition accident