China sends 4 patrol ships to S. China Sea

A patrol team consisting of 4 China Marine Surveillance, or CMS, ships have sailed from south China’s coastal city of Sanya to the South China Sea to conduct regular patrols.

The team includes patrol ships from the South Sea fleet of the CMS Force. The team is expected to travel more than 4,500 kilometers during the patrols. Formation drills will be conducted if maritime conditions permit. Presently, the CMS Force has 9 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and more than 280 patrol ships.