Foreign and Military Affairs

Fleet nears Somalia

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-08 09:55

The Chinese naval fleet sailed into the Strait of Malacca on Sunday, three days after its departure from China's island province of Hainan on an escort mission against piracy off Somalia.

The fleet deployed its first anti-pirate operation on Saturday night and arrived at the Strait of Malacca the next morning. It is expected to reach the Indian Ocean on Tuesday.

This is the fifth flotilla of Chinese ships sent on an overseas peacekeeping mission.

It contains naval ships, helicopters and about 800 navy personnel.

The naval forces will be on escort duties in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia. They will be stationed there for four months.

Besides peacekeeping duties, the Chinese navy will also conduct humanitarian rescue operations and exchanges with foreign navies.

A Chinese navy soldier stands guard aboard a ship.[Photo/Xinhua]

The Chinese naval fleet sailed into the Strait of Malacca on Sunday, three days after its departure from China's island province of Hainan on an escort mission against piracy off Somalia. [Photo/Xinhua]