The Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Communications launched four rescue ships to take part in an exercise on January 14th in order to ensure the security of the Qiongzhou Strait during the Spring Festival transport period. The Ministry of Communications pays close attention to the security of the Qiongzhou Strait, a maritime artery in China's southern coastal regions. It is predicted that about 1 million passengers and 145,000 vehicles will cross the Qiongzhou Strait this year. The Nanhai Rescue Bureau has disposed 14 rescue ships to ensure the security of the South China Sea during the Spring Festival transport period.

(Chinanews.cn January 17, 2006)