China navy starts west Pacific drill

A flotilla with China's Nanhai Fleet entered the West Pacific Ocean on Monday to start a drill there after exercises in the Indian Ocean. The three-ship flotilla consists of amphibious landing craft Changbaishan and destroyers Wuhan and Haikou, according to military sources. After reaching the Indian Ocean on Jan. 29, the ships conducted 10 exercises including anti-pirate, joint search and rescue as well as damage control drills. Exercises based on defense and settlement of emergencies were also conducted to test the command system's response and soldiers' combat skills. Changbaishan is the country's largest landing ship by gross tonnage and is equipped with an advanced weapons system. Both Wuhan and Haikou have experience of major drills and escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. The flotilla passed along the Lombok Strait, Makassar Strait and the Sulawesi Sea to enter the West Pacific Ocean according to the drill plan.