BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese official has urged Tuesday to strengthen patrols in the South China Sea to better protect fishermen from pirates and foreign vessels illegally entering Chinese fishing areas.

    It has become increasingly important for the nation's fishing authorities to watch over its fishermen, Wu Zhuang, director of the Administration of Fishery and Fishing Harbor Supervision of the South China Sea, was quoted by Wednesday's China Daily as saying.

The ships of China Fisheries Administration sail in a formation drilling, during the joint maritime manoeuvre, joint cruise and Voyage Onset Ceremony by maritime police and fisheries administrations from Hainan Province, Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to mark the 5th anniversary of the enforcement of the Sino-Vietnamese Agreements on the Border Division of the Beibu Bay Territorial Sea off the Phoenix International Harbour, Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, June 30, 2009.(Xinhua/Huang Ju) Photo Gallery>>>

    Wu made the remarks Tuesday at the drill of seven vessels in Sanya in south China's Hainan province to mark the 5th anniversary of the Demarcation Agreement on Beibu Bay, signed by China and Vietnam.

    The exercise is a sign of China's determination to protect its sea territory, secure its natural resources and safeguard China's fishing fleet, Wu said.

    Chinese fishermen face many challenges on the South China Sea -they run the risk of being illegally arrested by other governments, being robbed by pirates and must compete with foreign fishermen illegally encroaching upon China's traditional fishing area, he said.

The ships of China fisheries administration and maritime police sail in a sea echelon drilling, during the joint maritime manoeuvre, joint cruise and Voyage Onset Ceremony by maritime police and fisheries administrations from Hainan Province, Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to mark the 5th anniversary of the enforcement of the Sino-Vietnamese Agreements on the Border Division of the Beibu Bay Territorial Sea off the Phoenix International Harbour, Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, June 30, 2009.(Xinhua/Huang Ju) Photo Gallery>>>

    The latest such incident happened on June 20 when Indonesia seized 75 Chinese fishermen and eight vessels that originated in Beihai, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

    They are still being held.

    Wu said Chinese fishermen captured by foreign countries can be forced through a lengthy jurisdictional procedure and face jail terms.

    Wu called for legislation to help deal with invading fishermen and urged the building of more patrol capability.

The maritime police ship No.46041 of the Hainan provincial public security border defence regiment helps to put out fire on a fishing boat, during the joint maritime manoeuvre, joint cruise and Voyage Onset Ceremony by maritime police and fisheries administrations from Hainan Province, Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to mark the 5th anniversary of the enforcement of the Sino-Vietnamese Agreements on the Border Division of the Beibu Bay Territorial Sea off the Phoenix International Harbour, Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, June 30, 2009.(Xinhua/Huang Ju) Photo Gallery>>>