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A helicopter of the Chinese naval fleet
attends a landing exercise at night on Dec. 28, 2008, while the Chinese
naval fleet heads for the Gulf of Aden. The Chinese naval fleet including
two destroyers and a supply ship set off on Dec. 26 for waters off Somalia
for an escort mission against piracy.(Xinhua Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
DESTROYER
WUHAN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese naval fleet sailed into the Strait of
Malacca on Monday after its departure from China's southernmost island province
of Hainan on an escort mission against piracy off Somalia Friday afternoon.
The fleet sailed into Singapore Strait Monday morning
after over 20 hours' voyage from the South China Sea and arrived at the Strait
of Malacca. It is expected to reach the Indian Ocean Tuesday.
The convoy, which includes two of China's most
sophisticated naval destroyers, DDG-169 Wuhan and DDG-171 Haikou, and a supply
ship Weishanhu, is heading for the Gulf of Aden to join a multinational patrol
in one of the world's busiest sea lanes where surging piracy endangers
international shipping.
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A helicopter of the Chinese naval fleet
attends a landing exercise at night on Dec. 28, 2008, while the Chinese
naval fleet heads for the Gulf of Aden. The Chinese naval fleet including
two destroyers and a supply ship set off on Dec. 26 for waters off Somalia
for an escort mission against piracy. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
The
fleet carries about 800 crew members, including 70 soldiers from the Navy's
special force, and is equipped with missiles, cannons and light weapons.
The recent pirate attack on a Chinese fishing vessel
has raised great concern of the Chinese government and people. Statistics showed
that some 1,265 Chinese commercial vessels had passed through the gulf so far
this year and seven had been attacked.
The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions
calling on all countries and regions to help patrol the gulf and waters off
Somalia since June. The latest resolution authorized countries to take all
necessary measures in Somalia, including in its airspace to stop the pirates.
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A helicopter of the Chinese naval fleet
attends a landing exercise at night on Dec. 28, 2008, while the Chinese
naval fleet heads for the Gulf of Aden. The Chinese naval fleet including
two destroyers and a supply ship set off on Dec. 26 for waters off Somalia
for an escort mission against piracy.(Xinhua Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
