Chinese navy fleets set off on South American visit

SANYA, Hainan - Two Chinese navy warships sailed out from Sanya harbor in South China's Hainan province Tuesday on a voyage to Chile, Brazil and Argentina.

The fleet is made up of the missile destroyer Lanzhou and missile frigate Liuzhou, both serving in China's Nanhai Fleet, as well as the replenishment oiler Boyanghu serving in the Donghai Fleet, navy sources said.

Boyanghu set off from base on Sunday and will join the other warships later.

Their voyage will cover about 28,000 sea miles across the Pacific and to the South Atlantic via the Strait of Magellan.

It will be the first visit of the Chinese navy to Argentina, the sources said.

Lanzhou missile destroyer, with a full-load displacement of 6,400 tonnes, has served in a number of drills and escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia. Liuzhou missile frigate has a full-load displacement of 4,000 tonnes.