WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military has responded positively to China's proposed plan to deploy naval ships in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somalia coast to fight pirates, a high-ranking military officer said Thursday.

    "I hope the Chinese do (send ships to the Gulf of Aden) and we'll work closely with them," Timothy Keating, chief of the Pacific Command, told reporters during a briefing at the Foreign Press Center in Washington.

Crew of the ship "Zhenhua 4" fought against the pirates armed with rocket launchers and heavy machine guns.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    He said the international fight against pirates will provide new opportunities to enhance cooperation and coordination between the U.S. and Chinese militaries.

    The U.S. military is willing to provide related information for the Chinese military once China enacts its plan, Keating added.

    China's Foreign Ministry said earlier Thursday that the country was considering sending warships to fight pirates off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden.

    The remarks came the day after a Chinese commercial vessel was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

    According to China's Foreign Ministry, 20 percent of Chinese ships passing through the waters off the Somalia coast have been attacked by pirates from January to November this year.

China to send Navy to fight Somali pirates

    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.  Full story

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