Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
Saturday, December 28, 2013
China will continue to send naval fleets on escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, described by a Chinese naval officer as the nation's international obligation.
The pirates in the area have
become more violent and are brazen in using weapons. Reinforcing escort
forces is a real need and a long-term mission, Ding Yiping, deputy
commander in the Chinese Navy, said on Thursday, the fifth anniversary of China's first such escort mission.
In the past five years, China has sent 16 fleets composed of 42
warships to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, escorting 5,465
vessels and rescuing 42 ships attacked by the pirates, said Ding.
A total of 13,214 marines have participated in the escort missions.
Pirate activity has dropped off drastically in the wake of the
escorts from various countries, Ding said. Only 11 incidents have been
recorded this year to date, and none of them were successful.
The navy will expand its escort area and strengthen cooperation with international forces to ensure regional and world peace, he said.
Ding said that China has no plan to send its aircraft carrier to the
area as it is still in sea trials and is not yet combat-ready.