MISSILE DESTROYER QINGDAO - A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet has entered the country's territorial waters in the South China Sea for patrol and training missions, military sources revealed Friday.

Comprising the missile destroyer Qingdao and the missile frigates Yantai and Yancheng, the fleet entered the South China Sea at 11:40 am after taking about five hours to pass through the Bashi Channel.

Located between Taiwan and the Philippines' Luzon Island, the Bashi Channel is an international sea route linking the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

The three ships, all from the North China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy, are scheduled to carry out patrol missions and multi-type training exercises in the South China Sea over the next few days, according to navy sources.

The PLA Navy fleet departed Qingdao in east China on Tuesday for high-sea training exercises and patrol missions in the country's territorial waters. The fleet has sailed more than 1,200 nautical miles so far.