Chinese Navy ready to battle pirates

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-12-26  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE Chinese Navy's three-ship fleet that will take part in anti-piracy efforts off Somalia has finished its preparations and is ready for the country's first overseas deployment of maritime military forces since the 15th century, the fleet commander said yesterday.

Rear-Admiral Du Jingcheng said aboard the Navy's DDG-171 Haikou destroyer that the fleet's crew members were confident in their ability to safely escort Chinese merchant ships through the troubled Gulf of Aden.

The Haikou, the destroyer DDG-169 Wuhan and the supply ship Weishanhu will set sail from a Hainan Island port today.

The Chinese fleet will join the multinational force patrolling the important sea lane.

The Chinese ships will carry about 800 crew members, including 70 soldiers from the Navy's special forces, and are equipped with missiles, cannons and light weapons.

"The fleet's warships will primarily safeguard vessels passing through the waters. The fleet's helicopters will be responsible for the fleet's own safety, material delivery as well as rescue tasks," the commander said. "The fleet will protect and escort Chinese ships carrying strategic cargo, such as crude oil."

The commander, who serves as chief of staff of the Navy's South Sea Fleet, said the upcoming mission may last for a long time and involve unforeseeable challenges.

"We have made special preparations to deal with pirates, even though these waters are not familiar to us," he said.

The crewmen have received intensive training in shooting, maritime tactics and diving. Previously, the Chinese Navy focused on coastline defense and limited its operations abroad to goodwill visits and drills with other navies.