(WEI HUA)

China's marine surveillance ship Haijian 83 arrives at the Yongxing Island, part of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, on March 9 for regular patrols.

Haijian 83, 262 and 263 and helicopter Haijian B-7103 patrolled the Xisha Islands for nine days. The patrols inspected marine resources and ecology, and set up profiles of each island.

It is the first time for the Chinese marine surveillance helicopter and ships to be simultaneously dispatched to patrol the Xisha Islands since July 2012.