BEIJING - China will build a space-air-ground integrated sensing system to detect and stop pollution, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection Tuesday.

China's central authorities decided in July to build a comprehensive ecological environment monitoring system that will have the ability for automatic early warning using surveillance sites across the country.

The ministry said it will retake the power of environmental monitoring from local authorities, so that the country will have a unified standard for pollution detection and punishment.

A total of 2.5 billion yuan ($402.8 million) has already been invested to build the system, the ministry said.

So far, there has been more than 2,700 surveillance sites with 60,000 professional staff spread all over the country, covering 338 cities.

The ministry said it will also utilize satellites for remote sensing and drones to conduct regular surveillance on air and water quality.