Chinese anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden

Since 2008, China has maintained a standing People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) task force in the Gulf of Aden as an anti-piracy measure in response to piracy off the coast of Somalia. ^[1] The task force was initially authorized to escort only Chinese ships and ships carrying humanitarian supplies to Somalia; ^[2] this was later expanded to accept commercial ships from other countries. ^[3] Escorting Chinese ships in the Red Sea may have begun in January 2024 in response to the Red Sea crisis. ^[4]

The task force is China's first sustained "far seas" military presence. ^[5] It provides the PLAN with "invaluable" operational experience, ^[6] the benefits of which are spread by rotating units from all fleets into the task force. ^[7]

Background

Impact of piracy

Chinese fishing boat Tianyu 8 hijacked by Somali pirates.

In the 2000s, China developed greater interest and capability to protect its global interests.

Chinese discussions through 2012 identified the strategic importance of securing maritime trade routes. ^[8] Shipping contributed to China's financial and energy security. ^[9] 90% of China's international trade in goods was moved by ship. ^[8] It became a net oil importer in 1993, ^[9] and of natural gas in 2007. ^[8] By 2012, 80% of imported oil arrived by sea. ^[9] Reliable routes affected oil prices, which affected the stability of the United States dollar, and which in turn affected the value of Chinese investments in the United States (US) and US capacity to buy Chinese products. ^[10]

By 2009, views expressed by Chinese analysts included identifying piracy as a threat to national interests ^[11] and that the state had a responsibility to protect Chinese shipping. ^[8]

Global piracy increased every year from 2005 to 2010. ^[12] China's response to piracy was uncoordinated and informal. The Ministry of Transport (MoT) responded to pirated ships through intermediaries, but this was "not very effective." Anti-pirate tactics for civilian ships recommended by MoT were also inadequate. By 2008, there was domestic support for comprehensive protective measures. ^[13] By October, Chinese shipping companies, ^[2] MoT, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) supported deploying naval escorts. ^[14] That year from January to November, 83 of 1265 Chinese ships were attacked with several being pirated. ^[13]

Legal considerations

Intervention would require exercising force inside the exclusive economic zone of another country beyond China's periphery. This novel scenario for Chinese foreign policy and law, combined with internal debate over the legality of intervention in terms of domestic and international law, delayed action. ^[15] Three United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions in 2008 authorizing intervention in Somali waters may have provided China with part of the legal foundation to intervene. ^[16] Another part was securing an invitation from the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) to avoid appearances of subverting sovereignty. ^[17]

Planning and preparation

International and domestic pressure led the PLAN, the MoT, and the MoFA to developed a policy framework for the mission with "unusual alacrity" in late-2008. ^[18]

The PLA began feasibility studies in May 2008; a task force may have been seen as an opportunity to test the navy's newest equipment. The PLAN publicly announced its support in November, and the Central Military Commission (China) (CMC) approved the navy's plan shortly afterward. ^[18]

China "worked frantically" to secure an agreement from the Somali TFG. ^[18] In a late-November interview with the Global Times, Mohammed Ahmed Awil, the TFG's ambassador to China, reported that the TFG had sent an invitation for Chinese warships and was awaiting a response. ^[19] In mid-December, Awil ^[20] and Ali Jangali, the Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs ^[21] reiterated the TFG's support for a Chinese naval task force.

On 20 December 2008, China announced it would deploy a naval task force. This followed the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1851, ^[18] which extended the area of operations of UN authorized anti-piracy operations to include the Somali coast. ^[22]

International cooperation

In late-November 2024, Wolfgang E. Nolting, the commander of the German Navy, met Liang Guanglie, China's Minister of National Defense, in Beijing and discussed military aspects of China–Germany relations. Nolting hoped improved cooperation would extend to anti-piracy efforts. ^[23]

China's escort mission is organizationally independent from other coalition forces. In 2008, China may have perceived international piracy law as being too immature to provide a framework. Furthermore, the existing coalition forces - the United States' Combined Maritime Forces, NATO's Operation Ocean Shield, and the European Union's Operation Atalanta ^[24] - were not UN-led, and close integration may have allowed partners to gather intelligence on Chinese capabilities. ^[25] Integration may also have required installation of foreign software or hardware which may not have been possible or desirable for security reasons. ^[26]

China participates in Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) which provides a high-level discussion forum for coordinating counter-piracy forces. SHADE does not exercise control over participating forces. ^[27]

Organization and mission scope

The mission is jointly managed by the PLAN, the MoT, and the MoFA. ^[18] The MoT participates in coordinating Chinese anti-piracy efforts with other countries and media relations. ^[28]

The naval forces are controlled by PLAN headquarters instead of the Joint Staff Department, which nominally has control over operations beyond China's periphery. ^[29] A task force is deployed by a PLAN fleet ^[7] and typically include two warships, a supply ship, and approximately 800-personnel. The formations deploy for four to six months. ^[28] It takes about two weeks to sail from China to Somalia. ^[30]

Rules of engagement are restrictive to avoid capturing pirates and the need to prosecute them. ^[16] Euspected pirates are advised to disengage through visual, verbal, and live-fire warnings before escalating the engagement; ^{[16] [31] [32]} the main tactic is to deter, drive away or disarm attacks. ^[17] China's justice system lacks mechanisms to prosecute piracy, and it is also reluctant to try criminals captured in foreign countries in domestic courts. ^[33] China is also sensitive to the lack of an internationally-agreed upon process for dealing with captured pirates. ^[34]

Nearby ports used for replenishment include Aden, Djibouti City and Salalah. ^[35] Djibouti was used as a forward repair base in August 2009; ^[36] China's first overseas military base opened in Djibouti in August 2017. ^[37]

The initial mission was the protection of UN World Food Programme aid to Somilia and Chinese shipping. ^[2] This was expanded to foreign ships; foreing requests are handled through the MoT. ^[18] In 2024, escorts may have started for Chinese ships in the Red Sea. ^[4]

Events

The first task force deployed from Sanya ^[38] on 26 December 2008. ^[39]

In March 2011, the frigate Xuzhou from the seventh task force escorted a civilian ship transporting Chinese evacuated from the Libyan civil war. This was the PLAN's first noncombatant evacuation operation overseas. ^[40]

By the end of 2012, the task forces had escorted over 5000 ships. ^[41]

Task forces

Escort Task Group	Sailors (including Navy and Marine or special forces personnel)	Ships	Departure	Start	End	Return	Reference
1st Escort Task Group/Task Group 169	869	DDG-169 Wuhan (Type 052B destroyer), DDG-171 Haikou (Type 052C destroyer), AOR-887 Weishan Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	26 December 2008	26 January 2009	15 April 2009	28 April 2009	[42] [43]
2nd Escort Task Group/Task Group 167	866	DDG-167 Shenzhen (Type 051B destroyer), FFG-570 Huangshan (Type 054A frigate), AOR-887 Weishan Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	2 April 2009	15 April 2009	1 August 2009	21 August 2009	[44]
3rd Escort Task Group/Task Group 529	806	FFG-529 Zhoushan (Type 054A frigate), FFG-530 Xuzhou (Type 054A frigate), AOR-886 Qiandao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	16 July 2009	1 August 2009	29 November 2009	20 December 2009	[45]
4th Escort Task Group/Task Group 525	788	FFG-525 Ma'anshan (Type 054 frigate), FFG-526 Wenzhou (Type 054 frigate), FFG-568 Chaohu (Type 054A frigate), AOG-886 Qiandao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	30 October 2009	27 November 2009	18 March 2010	23 April 2010	[46]
5th Escort Task Group/Task Group 168	825	DDG-168 Guangzhou (Type 052B destroyer), FFG-568 Chaohu (Type 054A frigate), AOR-887 Weishan Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	4 March 2010 (FFG-568 Chaohu on 2 December 2009)	18 March 2010 (FFG-568 Chaohu on 21 December 2009)	20 July 2010	12 September 2010	[47]
6th Escort Task Group/Task Group 998	981	LPD-998 Kunlun Shan (Type 071 amphibious transport dock), DDG-171 Lanzhou (Type 052C destroyer), AOR-887 Weishan Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	30 June 2010	14 July 2010	20 November 2010	7 January 2011	[48]
7th Escort Task Group/Task Group 530	788	FFG-529 Zhoushan (Type 054A frigate), FFG-530 Xuzhou (Type 054A frigate), AOR-886 Qiandao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	2 November 2010	23 November 2010	11 November 2011	9 May 2011	[49]
8th Escort Task Group/Task Group 526	796	FFG-525 Ma'anshan (Type 054 frigate), FFG-526 Wenzhou (Type 054 frigate), AOR-886 Qiandao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	21 February 2011	18 March 2011	21 July 2011	28 August 2011	[50]
9th Escort Task Group/Task Group 169	878	DDG-169 Wuhan (Type 052B destroyer), FFG-569 Yulin (Type 054A frigate), AOR-885 Qinghai Hu (Type 908 replenishment ship)	2 July 2011	23 July 2011	15 November 2011	24 December 2011	[51]
10th Escort Task Group/Task Group 171	875	DDG-171 Haikou (Type 052C destroyer), FFG-571 Yuncheng (Type 054A frigate), AOR-885 Qinghai Hu (Type 908 replenishment ship)	2 November 2011	19 November 2011	17 March 2012	5 May 2012	[52]
11th Escort Task Group/Task Group 113	779	DDG-113 Qingdao (Type 052 destroyer), FFG-538 Yantai (Type 054A frigate), AOR-887 Weishan Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	27 February 2012	17 March 2012	18 July 2012	12 September 2012	[53]
12th Escort Task Group/Task Group 548	788	FFG-548 Yiyang (Type 054A frigate), FFG-549 Changzhou (Type 054A frigate), AOR-886 Qiandao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	3 July 2012	18 July 2012	23 November 2012	19 January 2013	[54]
13th Escort Task Group/Task Group 570	787	FFG-568 Hengyang (Ex-Chaohu, Type 054A frigate), FFG-570 Huangshan (Type 054A frigate), AOR-885 Qinghai Hu (Type 908 replenishment ship)	9 November 2012	23 November 2012	13 March 2013	23 May 2013	[55]
14th Escort Task Group/Task Group 112	736	DDG-112 Harbin (Type 052 destroyer), FFG-528 Mianyang (Type 053H3 frigate), AOR-887 Weishan Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	16 February 2013	13 March 2013	22 August 2013 (FFG-528 Mianyang on 25 August 2013)	28 September 2013	[56]
15th Escort Task Group/Task Group 999	853	LPD-999 Jinggang Shan (Type 071 amphibious transport dock), FFG-572 Hengshui (Type 054A frigate), AOR-889 Tai Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	8 August 2013	22 August 2013	20 December 2013	22 January 2014	[57]
16th Escort Task Group/Task Group 546	660	FFG-527 Luoyang (Type 053H3 frigate), FFG-546 Yancheng (Type 054A frigate), AOR-889 Tai Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	11 November 2013	20 December 2013	18 April 2014	18 July 2014	[58]
17th Escort Task Group/Task Group 150	810	DDG-150 Changchun (Type 052C destroyer), FFG-549 Changzhou (Type 054A frigate), AOR-890 Chao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	25 March 2014	18 April 2014	23 August 2014	22 October 2014	[59]
18th Escort Task Group/Task Group 989	1200	LPD-989 Changbai Shan (Type 071 amphibious transport dock), FFG-571 Yuncheng (Type 054A frigate), AOR-890 Chao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	2 August 2014	23 August 2014	24 December 2014	19 March 2015	[60]
19th Escort Task Group/Task Group 547	780	FFG-547 Linyi (Type 054A frigate), FFG-550 Weifang (Type 054A frigate), AOR-887 Weishan Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	2 December 2014	24 December 2014	24 April 2015	10 July 2015	[61]
20th Escort Task Group/Task Group 152	~800	DDG-152 Jinan (Type 052C destroyer), FFG-528 Yiyang (Type 054A frigate), AOR-886 Qiandao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	3 April 2015	24 April 2015	22 August 2015	5 February 2016	[62]
21st Escort Task Group/Task Group 573	~700	FFG-573 Liuzhou (Type 054A frigate), FFG-574 Sanya (Type 054A frigate), AOR-885 Qinghai Hu (Type 908 replenishment ship)	4 August 2015	22 August 2015	3 January 2016	8 March 2016	[63]
22nd Escort Task Group/Task Group 576	~700	FFG-576 Daqing (Type 054A frigate), DDG-112 Harbin (Type 052 destroyer), AOR-889 Tai Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	6 December 2015	3 January 2016	29 April 2016	30 June 2016	[64]
23rd Escort Task Group/Task Group 531	~700	FFG-531 Xiangtan (Type 054A frigate), FFG-529 Zhoushan (Type 054A frigate), AOR-890 Chao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	7 April 2014	29 April 2016	4 September 2016	1 November 2016	[65]
24th Escort Task Group/Task Group 112	~700	DDG-112 Harbin (Type 052 destroyer), FFG-579 Handan (Type 054A frigate), AOR-960 Dongping Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	10 August 2014	2 September 2016	5 January 2017	8 March 2017	[66]
25th Escort Task Group/Task Group 568	~700	FFG-568 Hengyang (Type 054A frigate), FFG-569 Yulin (Type 054A frigate), AOR-963 Hong Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	17 December 2016	2 January 2017	21 April 2017	12 July 2017	[67]
26th Escort Task Group/Task Group 577	~700	FFG-577 Huanggang (Type 054A frigate), FFG-578 Yangzhou (Type 054A frigate), AOR-966 Gaoyou Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	1 April 2017	21 April 2017	23 August 2017	1 December 2017	[68]
27th Escort Task Group/Task Group 171	~700	DDG-171 Haikou (Type 052C destroyer), FFG-575 Yueyang (Type 054A frigate), AOR-885 Qinghai Hu (Type 908 replenishment ship)	1 August 2017	23 August 2017	26 December 2017	18 March 2018	[69]
28th Escort Task Group/Task Group 546	~700	FFG-546 Yancheng (Type 054A frigate), FFG-550 Weifang (Type 054A frigate), AOR-889 Tai Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	3 December 2017	26 December 2017	1 May 2018	9 August 2018	[70]
29th Escort Task Group/Task Group 515	~700	FFG-515 Binzhou (Type 054A frigate), FFG-530 Xuzhou (Type 054A frigate), AOR-886 Qiandao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	4 April 2018	28 April 2018	3 September 2018	4 October 2018	[71]
30th Escort Task Group/Task Group 539	~700	FFG-539 Wuhu (Type 054A frigate), FFG-579 Handan (Type 054A frigate), AOR-960 Dongping Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	6 August 2018	1 September 2018	24 December 2018	27 January 2019	[72]
31st Escort Task Group/Task Group 998	~700	LPD-998 Kunlun Shan (Type 071 amphibious transport dock), FFG-536 Xuchang (Type 054A frigate), AOR-964 Luoma Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	9 December 2018	24 December 2018	28 April 2019	30 May 2019	[73] [74]
32nd Escort Task Group/Task Group 153	~700	DDG-153 Xi'an (Type 052C destroyer), FFG-599 Anyang (Type 054A frigate), AOR-966 Gaoyou Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	4 April 2019	28 April 2019	14 September 2019	1 November 2019	[73] [75]
33rd Escort Task Group/Task Group 117	~600	DDG-117 Xining (Type 052D destroyer), FFG-550 Weifang (Type 054A frigate), AOR-968 Hoh Xil Hu (Type 903A replenishment ship)	29 August 2019	14 September 2019	20 November 2019	1 January 2020	[75]
34th Escort Task Group/Task Group 118	~700	DDG-117 Xining (Type 052D destroyer), FFG-550 Weifang (Type 054A frigate), AOR-887 Weishan Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	10 June 2020	14 July 2019	14 March 2020	10 April 2020
35th Escort Task Group/Task Group 122	~600	DDG-131 Taiyuan (Type 052D destroyer), FFG-532 Jingzhou (Type 054A frigate), AOR-890 Chao Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	28 April 2020	14 May 2020	1 August 2020	14 October 2020
36th Escort Task Group/Task Group 202	~700	DDG-119 Guiyang (Type 052D destroyer), FFG-542 Zaozhuang (Type 054A frigate), AOR-960 Dongping Hu (Type 903 replenishment ship)	4 September 2020	14 October 2020	Ongoing	Ongoing

Fleet lot	fleet	Ports of departure and return of the fleet	Departure date	Escort start and end dates	return date	Task vessel (number of times)	Formation commander	Number of passengers on	Total number of escort batches and vessels	Friendly visit
Batch 37	South Sea Fleet	Hainan Sanya	2021/01/16	2021/01/31- 2021/06/07	2021/06/29	173 Changsha(1) 569 Yulin(3) 963 Honghu(2)	Wei Bing Wang Zhanwu	Over 700 personnel	Lasted 165 days, covering a distance of over 90,000 nautical miles, continuously at sea without docking for rest. Verified and drove away 15 batches of 24 suspicious small boats, provided special escort for 16 batches of 28 Chinese merchant ships, monitored the safety of 11 passing merchant ships, ensuring the safe navigation of escorted ships, completing 40 batches of 64 Chinese and foreign ship escort tasks.	None
Batch 38	East Sea Fleet Destroyer 6th Squadron	Zhejiang Zhoushan	2021/05/15	2021/06/07- 2021/10/17	Nanjing-class guided missile destroyer155(1) Yangzhou-class guided missile frigate 578 (2) 966 Gaoyouhu(3)	Shi Weilin Zhang Xianxing		Lasted 185 days, covering a distance of over 90,000 nautical miles, continuously at sea without docking for rest. Completed 31 batches of escort tasks for 45 Chinese and foreign ships, providing safety monitoring for 9 passing ships, ensuring the safety of escorted ships.	None
Batch 39	North Sea Fleet Destroyer 1st Squadron	Shandong Qingdao	2021/09/26	2021/10/17- 2022/02/04	2022/03/09	Ürümqi-class guided missile destroyer 118 (1) Yantai-class guided missile frigate538 (2) 889 Taihu(5)	Liu Bo		Lasted 165 days, covering a distance of over 90,000 nautical miles, efficiently completing 28 batches of escort tasks for 48 Chinese and foreign ships. Since the beginning of the mission, the fleet has strictly implemented epidemic prevention and control measures, organized escort operations meticulously, and adopted various methods such as extended escort and relay escort to ensure the safe navigation of escorted ships, effectively safeguarding the safety of international maritime trade routes and regional peace and stability.	None
Batch 40	South Sea Fleet	Guangdong Zhanjiang	2022/01/15	2022/02/04- 2022/06/08	2022/07/05	575 Yueyang(2) 907 Luoma Lake(2)	Zou Fuquan Yang Yaohua		Lasted 172 days, covering a distance of nearly 90,000 nautical miles, efficiently completing 30 batches of escort tasks for 50 Chinese and foreign ships. Provided medical assistance to one ship during the mission. Throughout the mission, the fleet strictly implemented epidemic prevention and control measures, organized escort operations meticulously, and adopted various methods such as relay escort, extended escort, and regional escort to ensure the safe navigation of escorted ships.	None
Batch 41	East Sea Fleet	Zhejiang Zhoushan	2022/05/18	2022/06/08- 2022/10/15	2022/11/15	Suzhou-class guided missile destroyer 132 (1) Nantong-class guided missile frigate 533 (1) 890 Chaohu(5)	Wang Mingyong Liu Hao		Lasted 182 days, covering a distance of nearly 90,000 nautical miles, efficiently completing 30 batches of escort tasks for 38 Chinese and foreign ships, continuously at sea without docking for rest. Throughout the mission, the fleet strictly implemented epidemic prevention and control measures, organized escort operations meticulously, and adopted various forms such as relay escort, extended escort, and regional escort to ensure the safe navigation of escorted ships.	None
Batch 42	North Sea Fleet	Shandong Qingdao	2022/09/21	2022/10/15- 2023/02/05	2023/03/30	Huainan-class guided missile destroyer 123 (1) Rizhao-class guided missile frigate 598(1) 903 Kekezhili Lake(2)	Sun Honglin Huang Zhongxin		Lasted 191 days, covering a distance of over 100,000 nautical miles, smoothly completing 20 batches of escort tasks for 29 Chinese and foreign ships, providing safety monitoring for 11 passing merchant ships. After completing the escort mission on February 29, the escort fleet arrived at Richard's Bay, South Africa, to participate in the joint maritime exercise of China, Russia, and South Africa. The exercise focused on "Joint Action to Maintain Shipping and Maritime Economic Activity" and included two phases: port and sea. The maritime exercise included fleet maneuvers, mine clearance, anti-piracy, rescue of distressed vessels, and more than 10 other subjects.
Batch 43	South Sea Fleet	Guangdong Zhanjiang	2023/01/10	2023/02/05- 2023/06/02	2023/08/29	Nanning-class guided missile destroyer 162 (1) Sanya-class guided missile frigate 574 (2) 887 Weishanhu(9)	Zhao Lang Yang Yanhua		Lasted 232 days, with a total mileage of nearly 120,000 nautical miles. During the mission, the fleet successfully completed 16 batches of escort tasks for 21 ships and provided safety monitoring for 16 passing merchant ships. From April 26 to May 2, two warships, excluding Sanya, went to Sudan to carry out the evacuation task and smoothly transported more than 1,000 Chinese and foreign nationals. After completing the evacuation mission, Nanning-class destroyer went to Pakistan, the UAE, and Iran to participate in the "Peace-23" multinational naval joint exercise, the 16th Abu Dhabi Defense Exhibition, and the 7th Naval Defense Exhibition. Also, it participated in the "Security Link-2023" maritime joint exercise.	Côte d'Ivoire Abidjan Port, Ghana Tema Port, Nigeria Lagos Port, Gabon Libreville Port, Congo Pointe-Noire Port, Technical stop at South AfricaCape Town and Malaysia Port Klang
Batch 44	East Sea Fleet	Zhejiang Zhoushan	2023/04/28	2023/06/02- 2023/10/02		Zibo-class guided missile destroyer 156 (1) Jingzhou-class guided missile frigate 532 (2) 886 Qian Dao Lake(8)	Sun Bo Li Jiamei	Over 700 personnel	On November 27, the escort fleet arrived in Myanmar Yangon, conducting a 4-day friendly visit, and there are reports that it will also conduct naval security exercises with Myanmar. [76] [77]	Oman Muscat [78] ，Kuwait Shuwaikh Port [79] ，Qatar Doha，UAE Abu Dhabi，Myanmar Yangon
Batch 45	North Sea Fleet	Shandong Qingdao	2023/09/12	2023/10/02		Chinese destroyer Ürümqi(2) Chinese frigate Linyi (547)(1) 902 Dongping Lake(4)

See also

• 7th Marine Brigade
• People's Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti

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