Naval fleet carries out first escort mission off Somalia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-06 21:47

ABOARD DESTROYER WUHAN - A Chinese naval fleet arrived Tuesday in the waters of the Gulf of Aden off Somalia to carry out the first escort mission against pirates.

Four Chinese merchant ships, including one from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, were escorted by the fleet.

Rear-Admiral Du Jingchen, commander of the task force, said the escort mission has started and "we would strictly observe U.N. resolutions and relevant international laws to fulfill our obligations."

The fleet, two destroyers and one supply ship, left a naval base on China's Hainan island last Friday under authorization from both the United Nations Security Council and Somalia's transitional government to primarily escort Chinese merchant ships.

The task force includes about 800 crew members, including 70 soldiers from the Navy's special force, and is equipped with missiles, cannons and light weapons.

The United Nations Security Council adopted four resolutions in 2008 calling on all countries and regions to help patrol the gulf and waters off Somalia, where surging piracy has endangered international shipping in one of the world's busiest sea lanes.