Chinese ship patrol Diaoyu Islands waters, South China Sea

Two fleets of Chinese marine surveillance ship were carrying out regular patrol missions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea respectively during the Spring Festival, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said on Sunday.

The crew of Haijian 137 celebrates Spring Festival on the shippatrolling in the territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea on Feb. 9,2013.(Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

One of the fleets - Haijian 50, Haijian 51, Haijian 66 and Haijian 137 - were patrolling in the territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, while the other, including Haijian 75 and Haijian 167, patrolled in the South China Sea.

Haijian is the Chinese equivalent of "marine surveillance."

The SOA's marine surveillance force will overcome whatever difficulties they encounter to secure the nation's territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests, the administration said in a statement on its website.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important festival in traditional Chinese culture. It falls on Sunday this year.