Chang Kai-sheng and Staff Reporter
China commissioned 17 new naval vessels since 2013, with many joining the South Sea Fleet, indicating that the superpower is placing more emphasis on the disputed region, according to military experts.
Guangzhou's Southern Metropolis Daily reported that China had deployed "relatively more" vessels among the 17 for the Guangdong-based South Sea Fleet, one of the country's three naval fleets.
Li Jie, a researcher at the Naval Military Art Studies Institute, said that it was necessary for China to focus more on the South China Sea's sizeable maritime area through frequent maneuvers and to enhance its claims in the area.
"Within a short time, the South China Sea will be the Chinese Navy's focal area for deploying new vessels and to protect the country's rights," he said, citing the example of the Sanya frigate that joined the force last year.
Read the full story at Want China Times