The availability of remote-sensing images brought by China's satellites has allowed the country to better monitor its territory in the far seas, including Huangyan, Diaoyu and Xisha islands and the surrounding sea areas.

The Overseas Edition of the People's Daily cited sources with the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) as saying it is a significant move in terms of extending China's maritime monitoring network coverage from the near to far seas.

The network went into service in 2009 after construction began in 2006.

By combining satellite, aerial remotesensing and ground-based monitoring methods, the system monitors development activities in China's coastal and sea areas "in a stereo and dynamic manner," the paper said on September 3.

China's monitoring of its sea territory had long been constrained by its lagging monitoring capacity, mainly due to the shortage of satellites, the report said, citing experts. The situation improved following the activation of the maritime monitoring network.