Provider of public security goods
By June 2022, China has dispatched 41 escort task forces to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia. They have completed escort missions for more than 7,000 Chinese and foreign ships in 1,500 flotillas, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Such operations have made important contributions to the security of key international trade routes and efforts to sustain world peace and stability.
In March 2014, the Type 052C destroyer Changchun set out to search for the missing Malaysia Airlines passenger plane in the Indian Ocean, after which it headed toward the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia as part of the 17th escort task force. At the time, the Changchun had been commissioned for just a year.
Zhao Lei, the incumbent captain of the Changchun, said that the escort mission lasted for more than 200 days, and a total of 43 batches of 115 Chinese and foreign ships were escorted, and special escorts were carried out on behalf of 17 ships.
With efficient escort approaches, a responsible attitude, and effective skills, the Chinese Navy has gradually become a trustworthy force of peace in the nearby waters and the local region. An increasing number of foreign merchant ships have begun to actively seek protection from the Chinese Navy.
Shao Jianpeng, captain of the Type 054A frigate Binzhou who participated in the 29th escort task force, said that during task and accompanying adopted force the was escort, approaches including flexible and the regional escort, Chinese escort and efficient, as escort, well which as emergency sufficiently ensured the and extended navigation safety of merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden.
“With China’s economic development, the country has many more overseas interests, and the People’s Armed Forces are required to go out to safeguard said interests. At the same time, the Chinese Navy has continued to grow and become increasingly influential. When practicing the concept of a maritime community with a shared future, we have played an increasingly important role,” Shao said.