China dispatches war ships to counter piracy

by Jeni Bone on 27 Dec 2008
Three Chinese warships departed for the Gulf of Aden on Boxing Day, planning to join international efforts to fight Somali pirate attacks, which experts estimate have totaled more than 100 in 2008.

China's official news agency Xinhua reported that two destroyers and a supply ship carrying Special Forces troops left from a base in the southern province of Hainan Friday.

The commander of the three warships, Rear-Admiral Du Jingchen, described the mission as the vessels were preparing to leave. The main mission is to protect ships in Gulf of Aden, and escort ships to protect them and their cargo.

Last week, the United Nations Security Council authorized nations to attack pirate bases from air and land. The Chinese ships will join warships from other countries including India, Russia, NATO and the United States. Japan's prime minister, Taro Aso, also said Japan may consider joining the anti-piracy mission.

Somali pirates have stepped up their attacks against ships plying the waters off Somalia's coastline over the past year, seizing tens of millions of dollars in ransom fees.

The International Maritime Bureau reports that 63 of 199 piracy incidents recorded worldwide in the first nine months of 2008 were in waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.