Chinese fleet wraps up open sea patrol

A flotilla with China's Nanhai Fleet stopped at a military port in south China's Guangdong Province on Tuesday after a 23-day annual patrol and training mission. The three-ship flotilla, consisting of amphibious landing craft Changbaishan and destroyers Wuhan and Haikou, patrolled waters off the Xisha Islands, Nanshan Islands and the Zengmu Reef, the southernmost part of the country's territory. After the mission in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, the flotilla passed along crucial straits, including the Sunda Strait, Lombok Strait, and Makassar Strait to enter the Indian Ocean and the West Pacific Ocean for the drill. Focusing on anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense as well as anti-submarine action, the training enhanced the navy's far-sea combat abilities and capacity to safeguard marine rights and interests, said Commander of the Nanhai Fleet Jiang Weilie, who also serves as the flotilla's commander. The Changbaishan is the country's largest landing ship by gross tonnage and is equipped with an advanced weapon system. Wuhan and Haikou have been used in major drills and escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. The flotilla sailed nearly 8,000 sea miles during the mission.