At 7 a.m. of April 21, Chinese patrol ships Haixun 31 and Haixun 1103 left Sanya, South China's Hainan province for the Xisha Islands to conduct a three-day patrol mission. The ships will patrol the Yongle Islands, the Yongxing Island, the North Reef of Xisha and the surrounding waters of the island groups of Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha. Seaplanes will join the mission later. This is the first sea-air joint mission conducted in waters near the Xisha Islands. (CNS Photo) |