A year of protection

It is more than a year since China dispatched its first anti-piracy fleet to the Gulf of Aden on Dec 26, 2008.

In just 12 months, the nation has seen four fleets successfully complete missions to protect Chinese and foreign vessels using the vital international trade route, including those carrying supplies for the United Nations' World Food Program.

As of Christmas Day last week, China had sent four naval fleets carrying a total of more than 3,300 troops to guard the troubled waters. They have escorted more than 1,300 merchant ships, including 405 foreign vessels and 18 from Taiwan province.