"Yuzheng 312" (in the photo) of the fisheries administration has begun its maiden patrol in the East Vietnam Sea (The south China sea).
The ship, the Chinese fleet's largest in terms of displacement, left Guangzhou and sailed to the disputed Truong Sa (Spratlys) Islands in the East Vietnam Sea to carry out a law enforcement mission.
The islands are under Vietnam's sovereignty.
The vessel has a displacement of 49.5 million tonnes and a navigation capability of 2,400 nautical miles with a maximum speed of 14 knots, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Routine fishery administrative patrols around the Truong Sa Islands will be carried out to better safeguard the legitimate interests of Chinese fishermen, a Chinese fishery official said last month.
PTI
