BEIJING, March 19 – China may convert more navy ships into fishery vessels to patrol the South China Sea, the China Daily reported, as Beijing seeks to extend its reach over disputed islands that straddle key Asian shipping lanes.

”China will make the best use of its (retired) naval ships and may also build more fishery patrol ships, depending on the need,” Wu Zhuang, director of the Administration of Fishery and Fishing Harbor Supervision of the South China Sea, told the newspaper.