REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEJING -- By deploying rescue ship Nan-hai-jiu 101 on Monday, China has joined the Indonesia-led search operations to track down the fuselage and black box of AirAsia flight QZ8501, the Chinese Transportation Ministry said.

The vessel is expected to arrive at the priority search area in three to four days, the transportation ministry added in its statement made available to Antara here Monday (5/1)

Seven experts are traveling the route aboard Nan-hai-jiu 101, which also has a number of equipment needed for underwater search operations, the statement noted, adding that another vessel, Nan-hai-jiu 115, has also been on standby in the waters off Yongxing Islands.

The ship will be sent to the search area if the Indonesian government requires its participation, the ministry's statement affirmed.

The search for the fuselage and black box of the ill-fated jet carrying 162 people on board, including seven crew members, continues. Till Monday afternoon, 37 bodies were recovered from the sea.

The AirAsia plane crashed in the waters of Karimata Strait near Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan province, on December 28 in its flight from Surabaya, East Java, to Singapore.

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