China to intensify undersea search for MH370

China Maritime Search and Rescue Center said on Monday that it will adjust search operations for flight MH370 and intensify the underwater search. [Special coverage]

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said earlier on Monday that the search of the missing aircraft will enter a new phase with seabed searches expanded to a much larger area.

The Chinese center said it will dispatch new vessels that can meet the needs for undersea search to join the operation and continue to cooperate with other countries.

The center is maintaining active communication and coordination with their counterparts in Malaysia and Australia to come up with detailed search plans.

According to the center, the Chinese vessel Haixun 01 and Navy vessels 999, 998, 171 and 886 are still searching in waters west of Australia and the Navy vessel 863 is continuing the search in eastern Indian Ocean.

The hunt for the plane has been ongoing since the aircraft disappeared on March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

The country has dispatched 18 vessels and mobilized 86 merchant and fishing ships in a search over 1.3 million square kilometers, according to the center. Nothing has been found.