Fleets take part in a joint exercise by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and China's civilian maritime authorities in the East China Sea October 19, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

EAST CHINA SEA - Civilian maritime authorities and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy conducted a joint exercise in the East China Sea on Friday.

A total of 11 vessels, eight aircraft and more than 1,000 personnel from the PLA Navy's Donghai Fleet, China's fishery administration and marine surveillance agency took part in the routine exercise, according to a statement from the fleet.

The exercise, the largest in recent years, was conducted in a sea area east of the city of Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The drill included simulations of illegal entry, obstruction, harassment and intentional interference by foreign vessels when Chinese ships of the fishery administration and marine surveillance agency patrolled.

The exercise was aimed at improving coordination between the navy and administrative patrol vessels, as well as sharpening their response to emergencies in order to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, the statement said.

The PLA Navy has conducted several joint exercises with the fishery administration and marine surveillance agency in the past.