Chinese Navy to aid Somali anti-piracy force

Posted by Mc Parry on January 29th, 2010 No Comments Printer-Friendly

UNITED NATIONS — China has agreed to cooperate with a coalition of naval forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden to deter rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia, a top Norwegian official said onThursday. Norwegian foreign ministry official Carl Salicath made the announcement on the first anniversary of the establishment of the so-called Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS).

He said China and a coalition of multinational forces — including from NATO, the European Union and the US-led Combined Maritime Forces — engaged in anti-piracy operations off Somalia “have agreed on a mode of cooperation.”

“The Chinese delegate heralded this as a very important step forward. I absolutely agree with him. This will make the patrolling more efficient,” Salicath, who chairs the CGPCS, added.

The Norwegian diplomat expressed hope that other nations with naval forces in the Gulf of Aden would follow China’s lead. Late last month, a top Chinese naval official proposed setting up a permanent base to support ships on an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, raising the idea that China could build foreign bases elsewhere.

In an interview posted on the Chinese defense ministry website, Yin Zhuo — an admiral and senior researcher at the navy’s Equipment Research Center — said such a base would bolster China’s long-term participation in the operation.

Hijacked Chinese bulk carrier De Xin Hai, October 19, 2009, Off the East coast of Somalia. (EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol)

Yin’s proposal came after a Chinese cargo ship and its crew of 25 were rescued from Somali pirates, following the payment of a 3.5-million-dollar ransom to their kidnappers.

China has sent four flotillas to the region since the end of 2008, with the first escort fleet spending 124 days at sea without docking, Yin said — a length of time that added to the challenges of the operation.

The CGPCS brings together Australia, Belgium, Britain, China, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, The Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United States, Yemen, the African Union, the European Union, the International Maritime Organization, NATO and the Arab League.

Its four working groups focus on regional capacity building and military coordination, legal prosecution of pirates, preventive measures and communication with Somali authorities (AFP)