BEIJING - The China Coast Guard participated in 272 maritime rescue operations in 2017, saving 62 ships and 425 people.

The coast guard said that it had also conducted patrols to safeguard China's maritime rights, with total voyages reaching nearly 1 million nautical miles last year.

The patrols covered all the sea areas under China's jurisdiction as well as the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, according to the coast guard, under the State Oceanic Administration.

Formed in 2013, the coast guard has accomplished a series of tasks for safeguarding China's maritime safety and stability, and maintaining the country's territorial sovereignty.