Government and Policy
A year of protection against pirates
By Li Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-29 07:54
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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.
The action to safeguard waters off the coast of east Africa followed an increase in pirate attacks that prompted a UN Security Council resolution, backed by the Somali government, to allow international fleets to patrol the region in an effort to protect vessels and maintain peace.
The Chinese navy announced historic and unprecedented plans to send PLA resources to the gulf to cope with the security threat to national interests.
It was the first mission abroad ever to be undertaken by the PLA, with the action involving warships and frigates, onboard aircraft and special forces troops. It was also the longest continuous journey made by the Chinese navy without making a port of call, breaking records in cruising duration and range of the vessels, as well as flight times for onboard helicopters.
The action also marked the first time the Chinese navy conducted joint operations and drills with foreign fleets, as well as carried out logistics and equipment maintenance so far from the coast in foreign waters.
During the anti-piracy missions, the Chinese vessels offered escorts to merchant ships and support in emergencies, such as attacks. To effectively ensure safety in the PLA patrol area, they employed various techniques, such as relay escorts and group escorts.
There are currently more than 30 warships from about 20 countries carrying out escort missions in the Gulf of Aden.
Pirates who operate off the Somali coast are often hiding in many different locations, although they will maintain a large central base. They use advanced communication techniques to coordinate attacks, say experts. Because of this, the escort forces must constantly readjust to new and dangerous threats.
World leaders who have committed resources to the region have also called in unison for more work to relieve poverty in Somalia, one of the chief causes of piracy.
The escort missions are expected to gradually expand beyond the Gulf of Aden, with many pirates now targeting areas farther from the coast due to the heavy military presence in the main shipping channel.
Generally, only stronger international cooperation under the UN to ease the chaos in war-torn Somalia will rid the area of pirates.
The author is a research fellow of Military Research Institute of PLA Navy
