Naval ships reach wherever national interests go

In 2008, the escalation of pirate activities in the waters off Somalia seriously threatened the safety of navigation. Based on the arrangements of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and at the request of the Somali transitional government, China dispatched the first escort task force to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia on December 26 of that year to carry out escort missions, which opened a new journey for the PLA Navy in regular deployment in the far seas and the carrying out of its duties.

Each year, China has more than 1,000 merchant ships that sail through the Gulf of Aden and transit through the Suez Canal to reach Europe. At the same time as the escort missions provide public security goods to the international community, they also serve to better safeguard China’s own interests.

Zhang Shengjie, captain of the Changsha, a Type 052D destroyer, recalled that he was in the 37th escort task force from January to June 2021. On April 23, the Navy’s founding anniversary, the Changsha and Honghu, a Type 903A comprehensive supply ship, escorted five Chinese fishing boats to their destinations. “When we met with the fleet to be escorted, one of the merchant ships in the fleet hung up banners saying ‘ Thank you to the People’s Navy for the escort’ and ‘[ We are] Proud of the Chinese Navy.’ I felt unparalleled pride then, for being able to escort ships from the motherland in the Gulf of Aden. I really feel the profound meaning of effectively defending the motherland and its people’s security interests.”

Zhang said the PLA Navy escort task forces respond to all the escort needs of Chinese and foreign ships, as they do their best to ensure the safety of the escorted ships and provide medical aid and the repair of equipment as much as possible, effectively safeguarding the safety of passage in international waterways.