Published on: 2026-08-11
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Beijing, August 11 /Xinhua/ — In mid-August, China will send a new convoy flotilla to the Gulf of Aden and Somali territorial waters to carry out a mission to escort civilian ships, the Chinese Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday.
This is the 49th flotilla of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China, which will operate in the region, replacing the 48th flotilla in this mission, which went to sea in October last year, according to a statement from the aforementioned ministry.
According to the statement, the newest fleet includes the missile destroyer “Kunming”, the missile frigate “Yueyang”, and the integrated supply ship “Lomahu”.
The ministry’s statement notes that the PLA Navy is committed to building a maritime community with a shared future and also contributes to ensuring the security of international sea routes as well as peace and stability in the region.
According to the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, China has been deploying naval ships since 2008 to conduct operations protecting vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the territorial waters of Somalia to ensure the security of international maritime routes, having escorted more than 7,000 Chinese and foreign ships, as well as rescuing, protecting, or assisting vessels in distress.
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