China sends escort fleet to Somali waters

A 15th Chinese naval squad departed for escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters on Thursday. The squad, sent by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, left from Zhanjiang, a coastal city in south China's Guangdong Province. It is expected to arrive at the eastern sea areas of the Gulf of Aden in late August to succeed the 14th escort fleet currently conducting missions in Somali waters. The 15th convoy fleet comprises three ships -- amphibious docking vessel Jinggangshan and missile frigate Hengshui from the navy's Nanhai Fleet, and supply ship Taihu from the Beihai Fleet -- carrying three helicopters and 800 troops. This is the first time that three ships have been dispatched for these Somali missions. China sent its first convoy fleet to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters in December 2008.