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Chinese naval fleet sets sail to fight pirates

By Cui Xiaohuo (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-27 08:37

YALONG BAY NAVAL BASE, Hainan: A Chinese naval fleet - armed with special forces, guided missiles and helicopters - set sail on Friday for anti-piracy duty off Somalia, the first time the country has sent ships on a mission that could involve fighting beyond its territorial waters.

Decorated with colored ribbons and flowers, the three warships - two destroyers and a supply vessel from the People's Liberation Army Navy - were unmoored at the military port by crew members in white naval uniforms.

The fleet will carry about 800 crew members, including 70 soldiers from the navy's special force.

The current expedition aims to guard civilian ships from attacks by Somali pirates.

A surge in attacks at sea this year in the busy Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean off Somalia has pushed up insurance costs, brought the Somali gangs tens of millions of dollars in ransom and led to the dispatching of foreign warships to the area.

Naval officers stand in formation to set off a Chinese navel fleet, which departed at 1:50pm on Friday from Sanya, Hainan province, for Somalia. The ships will participate in an escort mission to counter piracy. [Xinhua]

The victims included a Hong Kong-registered ship with 25 crew aboard and a Chinese mainland fishing boat reportedly seized off the Kenyan coast.

After Rear-Admiral Du Jingchen, commander of the mission, received the "go" signal from Wu Shengli, commander-in-chief of the Chinese navy, the flagship of the fleet, missile destroyer Wuhan, weighed anchor at 1:45 pm.

To the strains of military music played by a naval band, the other destroyer, Haikou, and Weishanhu, a large vessel loaded with supplies, followed the flagship as sailors waved to guests on the dock.

The fleet will cruise for about 10 days before it arrives in the Gulf of Aden, joining the multinational patrol in one of the world's busiest sea lanes.

"This is a historic expedition for the Chinese navy that is being watched by millions. It underlines China's determination to safeguard its citizens' interests and contributes to the international community," Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi said at the send-off ceremony.

The current mission might be a long one that poses unforeseeable challenges, said Du, who is chief of staff of the navy's South China Sea Fleet.

The escort fleet will protect Chinese vessels and crews, including those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan seeking protection when passing through the area, as well as foreign ships on request.

The first phase of the mission will last for at least three months and the navy may send new crews to relieve the fleet at an appropriate time, depending on the situation and the decision of the UN Security Council.

It will also help ships carrying humanitarian relief for international organizations, such as the UN World Food Program. The fleet will not charge escort service or protection fees to ships, whether foreign or Chinese.

The fleet will be ready to respond to appeals for protection from Jan 6.

Du, speaking on board the destroyer Wuhan, said the fleet had not been given specific instructions about the Chinese fishing vessel Tian Yu 8, which is still being held by pirates, since the government has not given up negotiating with the pirates.

Hundreds of tourists at a nearby beach watched the fleet as they seized the opportunity to take photos of the warships.

"The beach was busy, with many people coming here just to watch the fleet set off," said Wang Bin, 38, who rents boats at the beach.

"As China's national strength grows, so does its responsibility," said Liu Hui, a 28-year-old tourist from Beijing.

Xinhua, agencies contributed to the story