China to maintain regular Diaoyu Islands patrols

BEIJING - China will continue regular patrols of the Diaoyu Islands to safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty, the head of oceanic authorities has said.

"China will maintain regular patrols in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea," Liu Cigui, director of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), was quoted as saying by the People's Daily on Monday.

China restructured its top oceanic administration to enhance maritime law enforcement and better protect its marine resources in March.

The restructuring is a landmark in the history of oceanic protection and development, signaling a significant change in the country's marine management system, Liu said.

"China's maritime law enforcement used to be loose and inefficient. This move will improve the protection and utilization of oceanic resources and better safeguard China's maritime rights and interests," Liu was quoted as saying.

Administered by the Ministry of Land and Resources, the SOA integrates the China Marine Surveillance, the coast guard forces of the Ministry of Public Security, the fishery law enforcement command of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the maritime anti-smuggling police of the General Administration of Customs.