China repositioned to continue with search for MH370

e Chinese rescue vessel "Haixun 01" sails off from Singapore to Sunda Strait, March 19, 2014. Chinese vessels set on Wednesday for new search areas to hunt the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner when a multinational search mission for MH370 enters its 12th day. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

The Chinese military will continue to engage sufficient forces to hunt the missing Malaysian Airlines jetliner as its search areas expand, Defense Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.  [Special coverage]

Three air force cargo planes were on standby and would join in the multinational search operation soon while the naval vessels formed in two groups would scout the northern and southern corridors respectively, said spokesman Geng Yansheng in an interview with Xinhua.

Geng said that Chinese military would strengthen cooperation and coordination with all relevant parties including Malaysia.

So far, Chinese military have scouted sea waters of 46,000 square kilometers while airspace search covered 73,000 square kilometers. A dozen satellites have been used, said Geng.

As the multinational search operation entered its 12th day, China has shifted its searching focus from South China Sea to waters southeast of the Bay of Bengal and west of Indonesia, covering an area of 300,000 square kilometers.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that no trace of missing flight MH370 entering Chinese territory or airspace has been found.

"With a vast area of territory, search work is still in full swing," said he at a daily press briefing. Radar and satellite data for parts of China covered by the "northern corridor" have been examined in meticulous detail at the request of the Malaysian side.

Official Malaysian sources say the plane could be anywhere along a giant arc extending from Kazakhstan in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south.

Chinese naval ships on Wednesday left their rally point near Singapore and split into two groups, one heading north and the other south on the second phase of the search.

"China has shared satellite data with Malaysia at the request of the Malaysian side," Hong said, adding that China will give further information when data is completely verified.

"China has conveyed Malaysia's request to all countries related through diplomatic channels to express hope for their efforts to take part in the international search," Hong said, calling on further coordination with Malaysia in the search.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200 aircraft, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, mysteriously disappeared from radar in the early hours of March 8.

A high-level working team will be sent to Beijing to deal with issues related to the missing plane, according to Malaysian Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Comprised of representatives from the Prime Minister's Office, the Foreign Ministry, the Royal Air Force, the Department of Civil Aviation and Malaysia Airlines, the team will give briefings and updates to the next of kin on the latest situation, and on search and rescue plans, said Hishammuddin.