China’s bid to halt Somalian piracy

Three Chinese war vessels have now joined in the international anti-piracy mission around the waters of Somalia.

The ships – from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) – are carrying Chinese Special Forces during the mission in the Gulf of Aden. The boats are also equipped with missiles and helicopters.

One supply ship and two destroyers are patrolling the North Somalian coast in an effort by the United Nations to cut the amount of piracy that spiralled out of control last year.

Military vessels from Britain, France, India, Russia and the United States are also patrolling the waters of Somalia – an area of the world notorious for its frequent pirate attacks in recent months.

The Chinese warships have sailed from their base in Sanya on the southern island province of Hainan.

China’s deployment of these ships is an immediate reaction to the UN Security Council’s authorisation to nations for attacks to be made on pirate bases – from both land and air.

But the communist state’s involvement in the patrols has increased worries about China’s fast-growing military capabilities. The operation will challenge how well they can patrol the Gulf of Aden in co-operation with other naval forces from across the world.

Stratfor, the Texas-based military and political intelligence forecaster, explained that the deployment of the ships to the Gulf of Aden marks a significant step in the evolution of China’s navy.

“The mission will be complicated, offering vital on-the-job training in refuelling, resupply and repairs far from home as well as patrolling for pirates”, Stratfor said.

“In the event of an accident or a run-in with pirates, would a Chinese vessel carry out repairs at sea, head to a nearby port, perhaps in Pakistan, or return to China?”

Stratfor explained that the Aden would be filled with naval vessels from a wide variety of countries, meaning it will be essential for China to maintain a clear and effective means of communication with these ships. The Chinese Navy "will very likely monitor the way NATO and especially US warships communicate with each other and with their shipborne helicopters," the Texas-based intelligence company added.

The deployment of the ships from China is even more justified when one considers the impact Somalian piracy has had on the nation and its economy.

Past Chinese vessels which have been attacked include a Liquid Natural Gas tanker, the MV Feisty Gas in 2005 and the MT Stolt Valor, a chemical tanker which was carrying almost twenty-four thousand tonnes of oils and chemicals in September last year. Both these ships were held separately with demands for a financial ransom. Together it is believed pirates succeeded in gaining at least £0.9 million – and possibly as high as £1.9 million – in ‘ransom’ money, for the release of the ships.

Since then, a Chinese fishing vessel, the FV Tianyu No.8, was also seized by pirates while it was fishing off the coast of Kenya, which is located south of Somalian waters. It is not known where the fishing boat is now.

The MV Zhenhua 4 – another Chinese fishing boat – was attacked on December 17 2008, but the thirty-strong crew fought off the seven pirates that had boarded the ship using water cannons, petrol bombs and beer bottles.

In January 2009, there have been attacks on flagships from Panama, Egypt, India and Greece. But due to the extensive surveillance and patrols of the ‘pirate hotspots’ all but one of the hijackings have been foiled with the help of foreign military forces from air and sea.

The Egyptian cargo ship, Blue Star, is currently being negotiated for a ransom. The hijacked cargo ship is carrying twenty-eight crew and around six thousand tonnes of fertiliser – a fragile product that could easily land in the hands of an extremist organisation – if it is not bought back quickly by the company that owns it.