Fleets relay baton, new mission to last 6 months

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

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.