by Xinhua writer Wang Cong
BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- China is making
preparations to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali
coast to fight rampant pirates, after a Chinese ship escaped pirate hijack in
the region.
"We are making preparations and arrangements to deploy naval ships to the Gulf of Aden for escorting operations," the foreign ministry said on its website Thursday.
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Crew of the ship "Zhenhua 4" fought against the pirates armed with rocket launchers and heavy machine guns.(Xinhua Photo)
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"We will make a formal announcement when we are
ready," the ministry said, without giving any further details.
However, military sources said that it will be the
first time for Chinese navy to carry out escorting missions outside Chinese
waters, and this mission is in line with related resolutions of the United
Nations on combating pirates off the Somali coast.
The United States, NATO and other countries have
already sent naval forces to ply this area.
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The pirates armed with rocket launchers and heavy machine guns aboard the ship "Zhenhua 4".(Xinhua Photo)
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The Global Times newspaper, affiliated to the
People's Daily, cited anonymous maritime officials as saying that China would
send a fleet of two destroyers and a supply ship to the Gulf of Aden.
The ships would depart from Sanya on the southern
island province of Hainan for a three-month escorting mission in the region, the
paper said.
The announcement came a day after a Chinese cargo
ship fought off nine pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
The 30 crew fought for four hours against the pirates
armed with rocket launchers and heavy machine guns with the help of a
multi-coalition force. No injuries or deaths were reported.
"We deeply appreciate the effective help offered by Malaysia and international organizations," Liu Jianchao, spokesman of the foreign ministry, told a press conference Thursday.
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Somali pirates. China is making preparations to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast to fight rampant pirates, after a Chinese ship escaped pirate hijack in the region.(File Photo)
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Around 1,000 Chinese commercial ships pass the
troubled sea areas a year, sources said. And according to Liu, 20 percent of
Chinese ships passing through the waters off the Somalian coast have been
attacked by pirates from January to November this year.
Seven ships, either owned by China or carrying
Chinese cargo and crew, had been hijacked by pirates in that period, Liu said,
adding that one Chinese fishing boat along with 18 crew were still held by
pirates.
About 40 ships carrying over 600 crew were hijacked
by Somalia pirates off the Somali coast in the first 11 months this year, Liu
said, citing the statistics of the Kenya-based Seafarers Assistance Program.
"China welcomes international cooperation in the
fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia, and support the efforts of other
countries to send warships to the region to crack down on pirates in pursuit of
international law and U.N. Security Council resolutions," he said.
More than 20 of those hijacked ships along with close to 300 crew were held by the pirates.
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Somali pirate. China is making preparations to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast to fight rampant pirates, after a Chinese ship escaped pirate hijack in the region.(File Photo)
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China's decision on Tuesday to send naval ships to
the waters off the Gulf of Aden and Somali coast was welcomed by the
Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
Somalian Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Jama hailed
China's participation on Tuesday, saying Somalia would continue to cooperate
with China, and do its utmost to retrieve the Chinese vessel and rescue Chinese
crew members taken hostage by pirates.
Netizens in China also backed the government's
decision to send naval ships to the region.
An online survey conducted by the Global Times
newspaper by Tuesday night showed that more than 82 percent of 17,198 people
polled voted yes to sending a pirate-fighting fleet to Somalia as of Tuesday
evening.
"We fully support the government's decision and hope
the fleet could be deployed as soon as possible since China is a responsible
country which should take part in multinational peacekeeping in the region,"
said a netizen in a posting on the newspaper's website.
Chinese ship rescued from attack by pirates in Gulf of
Aden
NAIROBI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A regional maritime official
confirmed on Wednesday that an international naval force rescued a Chinese ship
from nine Somali pirates in the latest surge in piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
Andrew Mwangura, East Africa's Coordinator of Seafarers
Assistance Program (SAP) said the crew on the Chinese MV Zhen Hua-4 had locked
themselves in their cabins and radioed for help. Full story
Chinese ship escapes pirate hijack in
Gulf of Aden
BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese ship escaped pirate
hijack in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, after the crew fought for four hours
with the help of a multi-coalition force. No injuries or deaths were reported.
The ship "Zhenhua 4" is owned by China Communications
Construction Co. and is registered in Saint Vincent. The company lost contact
with the sailors after the ship was attacked by pirates at 12:43 p.m. (Beijing
time). Full story
China ship rescued after pirates'
forced retreat in Gulf of Aden
BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese ship was rescued
after multi-national soldiers forced retreat of pirates in the Gulf of Aden at
16:45 (Beijing time) on Wednesday.
The multi-national forces used helicopters for the rescue
operation. Full story
China ship attacked by pirates in Gulf
of Aden, 30 sailors unconnected
BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A ship owned by China
Communications Construction Co. was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden at
12:43 p.m. (Beijing time) on Wednesday.
Thirty Chinese sailors were aboard the ship, "Zhenhua 4",
that was registered in Saint Vincent. The company has lost contacts with the
sailors and their conditions were unknown. Full story
Somalia welcomes Chinese naval
deployment off its coast
MOGADISHU, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Somalia on Wednesday
welcomed China's announcement that it was seriously considering sending naval
ships to Somali waters to fight rampant piracy.
"As a friend of the Somali people and victim of the piracy
menace," China can play a vital role in combating the scourge off Somali waters,
said Somalia's Parliament Speaker Sheik Aden Madoobe. Full story
Vice FM: China "seriously considering"
naval escorting operations in Somali waters
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign
Minister He Yafei said here on Tuesday that China is "seriously considering
sending naval ships" to the waters off the Somali coast for escorting operations
in the near future to fight against rampant piracy there.
Speaking at a ministerial meeting of the UN Security
Council on Somali piracy, He said that China welcomes international cooperation
in the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia and supports the efforts of
relevant countries to send warships to the region to crack down on pirates in
pursuant to international law and Security Council resolutions. Full
story
