Fleets relay baton, new mission to last 6 months

By Cui Xiaohuo (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-17 08:57

The second batch of Chinese warships sent to combat pirates near Somalia took charge of the mission on Thursday.

Commanders of the rotating fleets exchanged intelligence before the five warships performed their last joint patrolling mission together in the Gulf of Aden.

"I hope the second fleet will bring home good news," said Rear Admiral Du Jingchen, who has been at sea for nearly four months while leading a fleet of two advanced destroyers and China's largest self-made supply ship, Weishanhu, on their current mission.

Rear Admiral Yao Zhilou, whose fleet includes one destroyer, one frigate as well as the Weishanhu, which will remain for the latest mission, said earlier that his ships and soldiers are ready for a tougher and longer mission against the pirates.

"We may expand our zone of operation as the pirates have expanded theirs to areas with fewer patrolling warships, coordinated with each other, upgraded their weapons and become more violent," Yao said before his fleet departed from its headquarters in Guangdong earlier this month.

The second mission is expected to last about six months.

The Chinese navy has guided the voyages of more than 210 vessels and rescued three vessels chased by the pirates since assuming the historic mission on Jan 6.

Somali pirates, who started a hijacking spree after moving their operations further off shore and southwards to the Indian Ocean, have vowed revenge against US and French vessels after US forces shot dead three pirates when rescuing one hostage last week.