China Deploys Naval Fleet to Gulf of Aden to Counter Houthi Attacks

The People's Republic of China dispatched a new naval fleet to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia earlier this week as part of its efforts to protect its commercial vessels from escalating attacks by Houthi militants.

According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, the fleet set sail on Sunday from a military port in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. Its mission is to escort commercial vessels that have been at risk of Houthi assaults for over a year.

Before departure, the fleet underwent rigorous training, including armed rescue operations for hijacked commercial ships, anti-piracy and counter-terrorism exercises, and practical weapon usage drills.

The 47th naval fleet consists of a guided-missile destroyer, a missile frigate, and a supply ship. It is staffed by over 700 officers and soldiers, along with two helicopters and special forces personnel.

China’s chargé d'affaires to Yemen, Shao Cheng, expressed concern over the continuation of Houthi attacks, emphasizing the need to halt these assaults targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

He stressed the importance of safeguarding global supply chain security, noting that China, as the world’s second-largest economy, is significantly affected by these hostile actions.

It is worth noting that Iranian-backed Houthi forces have launched drone and missile attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait. These assaults are claimed to be acts of solidarity with Gaza amid the ongoing conflict there.

These attacks have disrupted shipping and trade routes, forcing many companies to seek longer and safer alternatives for transporting their goods.