A flotilla with China's Nanhai Fleet on Monday set sail from a military port in south China's Hainan Province for a drill in the South China Sea, according to military sources.

The drill, part of annual exercises, includes as combat exercises in the West Pacific Ocean and the east Indian Ocean.

The three-ship flotilla consists of amphibious landing craft Changbaishan and destroyers Wuhan and Haikou.

The Changbaishan is the country's largest landing ship by gross tonnage and is equipped with an advanced weapon system. Both Wuhan and Haikou have experience of major drills and escort missions in the Gulf of Aden.

Three helicopters and a company of land forces are aboard the ships.

Fleet commander Jiang Weilie said this drill focuses on testing the combat ability of leading ships, submarines and aviation forces while exploring methods for normalized open sea drills.