A Chinese naval fleet returned from an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters on Tuesday to a military port in Sanya City in the southern island province of Hainan, the PLA Daily reported Wednesday.
The fleet, the 21st since December 2008, when China sent its first escort squad to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters, was composed of the guided-missile frigates Liuzhou, Sanya and the comprehensive supply ship Qinghaihu. They left for the mission on August 4, 2015.
During the mission, it escorted a total of 65 Chinese and foreign ships and observed 56 suspicious vessels.
The fleet also visited Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Cambodia, and carried out joint anti-piracy drills with the naval forces of nations including the Republic of Korea and Denmark.
The newspaper said the fleet had conducted practical exchanges with foreign militaries, deepening mutual trust and friendship.
