Chinese naval formation sets sail for high-sea training

A Chinese naval flotilla, comprising of missile destroyers Changsha and Haikou, and supply ship Luomahu, departed from a military port in south China's Sanya City Friday for a high-seas training mission, military sources said.

The vessels, all with the Nanhai fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy, are scheduled to start their mission with a drill including naval aircraft in the South China Sea.

They have three helicopters and dozens of marines on board.

In addition to the South China Sea, the mission will pass through the east Indian Ocean and west Pacific Ocean for training in air-defense, escorting, anti-terror, anti-piracy and defensive combat, under real combat conditions.

The mission will involve naval aviation forces of the Nanhai Fleet, the military garrisons on the Xisha and Nansha Islands and some forces from the Beihai and Donghai Fleets in confrontation drills.

Nanhai Fleet deputy commander Yu Manjiang said the mission is a regular arrangement in accordance with the annual plans of the PLA Navy in line with international law and practice.

The mission will test the ships' high-seas performance and explore ways to improve high-seas training by a formation. Endi