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Chinese navy again escorts Taiwan ship off Somalia

By Wang Hui (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-03-05 22:37

The Chinese navy Wednesday began a 550-nautical-mile escort mission for a Taiwan ship and four other ships through Somali waters to protect them against pirate attacks.

They were expected to reach the east estuary of Bab-el-Mandeb (or Mandeb Strait) Friday. Bab-el-Mandeb, which literally means, the "Gate of Tears", is where the Red Sea meets the Arabian Sea, and despite being very difficult to navigate, it is among the busiest shipping channels in the world.

Full coverage:  Global War against Pirates Related readings:  Naval fleet ends largest escort mission so far in Gulf of Aden  Chinese navy completes 15 escort missions  Navy begins 3rd escort mission Ship thanks naval fleet for escort  Navy escorts Taiwan ship in waters off Somalia  Chinese naval fleet carries out first escort mission off Somalia

Yan Shunyi, captain of the Taiwan merchant vessel Taisu No 12, expressed his gratitude to the navy. "Thank you very much...The navy is very successful at escort missions. I will ask for escort again on the return trip." The Kaohsiung local said.

His company Formosa Plastics Corporation filed an application for the escort mission via an agency more than 10 days ago, according to him.

The Chinese navy escorted a Taiwan ship in waters off Somalia for the first time on Jan 12. The ship is also owned by Formosa Plastics Corporation.

On its 21st escort mission on February 17, 2009, the naval fleet guided 10 Chinese merchant ships and three foreign ones, including "Hermione" from Germany, "Viking Crux" from Singapore and "Princess Nataly" from Cyprus. This was the largest operation of its kind so far.

Two navy destroyers and a large supply ship set sail from Sanya, Hainan province, on December 26, 2008, reached the Somali waters on Jan 6, and divided the waters into seven zones, each spanning 550 nautical miles.

They offered to escort ships from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as foreign ships on request.