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60th Birthday of the Chinese Navy
Special> 60th Birthday of the Chinese Navy
UPDATED: May 2, 2009 NO. 18 MAY 7, 2009
Deep Blue Mission
The Chinese Navy dispatches ships to the Gulf of Aden on a second escort mission, marking its growing strength in the face of more diverse challenges
By DING YING
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PASSING THE TORCH: Destroyer Shenzhen (left) of the second escort fleet and destroyer Wuhan of the first escort fleet meet in the Gulf of Aden on April 13 (YU ZHANGCAI )

Early in the morning of April 23, crewmembers from the Chinese Navy's second escort fleet in the Gulf of Aden gathered on deck and saluted to the east, paying their respects to the motherland in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Navy.

This fleet, the second one dispatched by the Chinese Navy to the Gulf of Aden, includes missile destroyer Shenzhen, missile frigate Huangshan, supply ship Weishanhu, two helicopters and 800 crewmembers including navy special forces. The first two ships left Guangdong Province's Zhanjiang Port on April 2 to take over from the first escort fleet. By April 23, the second escort fleet had escorted 44 commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast. The previous escort fleet, which left China late last year and included the destroyers Wuhan, Haikou and the supply ship Weishanhu, completed 41 escort missions and protected 212 ships, rescued three ships under attack and retook one ship from pirate control. All crewmembers and ships in the first escort fleet were 100 percent safe.

The escort mission is mainly targeted at ensuring the safety of Chinese vessels, and those of international organizations like the World Food Program, from Somali pirates. When necessary, the escort fleet also follows international convention and offers possible humanitarian rescue to foreign ships in danger. China dispatched the first escort fleet on December 26 last year after the UN Security Council called on countries to take measures against rampant piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast.

Statistics from the Chinese Government show that from January to November 2008, there were on average three or four Chinese merchant ships passing through Somali waters every day, and about 20 percent of these ships were attacked by pirates before the task force was deployed. At least 120 merchant ships from different countries were hijacked during that period.

Real Admiral Yao Zhilou, commander of the second Chinese naval escort fleet, told People's Daily that the area is currently being patrolled by 40 additional naval ships from 15 countries, including the United States, Britain, France, Russia, India and Japan. Since China began its escort mission, these navies have contacted the Chinese escort fleet and hope to carry out more communication like information sharing and meetings among commanders.

The modernization process of the Chinese Navy has accelerated, especially in the last 10 years. New naval armaments and ships have enhanced its ability to carry out naval missions. All ships in the two escort fleets were designed and manufactured in China, marking the growing power of the Chinese Navy.

Real Admiral Du Jingchen, commander of the first Chinese naval escort fleet, told Xinhua News Agency on April 27 that the mission had created several records in the history of the Chinese Navy, such as the longest time and sailing distance. The voyage covered 4,600 nautical miles, passing through the Xisha and Nansha islands, the Singapore Strait, the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean before arriving in the Gulf of Aden.

The escort mission not only demonstrates the Chinese Navy's growing capability in dealing with security threats at sea, but also provides actual combat experience in complicated weather and sailing conditions, said Du. He stressed that the mission also supports China's image as a big responsible country. The mission defends Chinese merchant ships and the country's transport lanes at sea and protects the country's national strategic interest.

"This mission marks a big step for the Chinese Navy," senior Chinese military expert Peng Guangqian said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. The recent piracy is a reminder that the security threats China faces today are more diverse than war alone. Antiterrorism, antismuggling and escorting Chinese merchant ships are all important missions for Chinese military forces, he said.



 
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