China deploys 48th Naval Escort Fleet to Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy mission
The deployment marks the continuation of China’s naval operations that began in December 2008 to protect international shipping routes from piracy and to support maritime security in the region.
A new fleet from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy has departed from the port city of Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province to carry out an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia.
The deployment marks the continuation of China’s naval operations that began in December 2008 to protect international shipping routes from piracy and to support maritime security in the region.
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The 48th escort fleet left Qingdao at around 9 am on October 11, 2025, following an official send-off ceremony. The fleet will replace the 47th escort group that has been operating in the Gulf of Aden since earlier this year. The new fleet consists of the guided-missile destroyer Tangshan, the guided-missile frigate Daqing, and the comprehensive supply ship Taihu. Two helicopters and several dozen special forces members are also part of the mission.
The Ministry of National Defence said that the fleet will undertake vessel protection and escort operations for Chinese and foreign ships navigating through one of the world’s busiest and most vulnerable sea lanes.
The waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden have been a focus of international anti-piracy cooperation since the mid-2000s, and China’s naval deployments have formed part of those efforts.
Before its departure, the fleet completed a series of training exercises designed to prepare the crew for a range of mission scenarios.
The exercises included live-fire drills, convoy-escort simulations, and at-sea replenishment training. The Navy said the training aimed to strengthen the sailors’ ability to operate for extended periods at sea and to respond effectively to emergencies during the mission.
Jiang Bin, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defence, said the deployment is part of China’s ongoing effort to maintain safe sea lanes and contribute to regional stability.
“The 48th escort fleet will sail to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia to replace the 47th escort fleet and carry out escort missions. The Chinese naval fleet will take concrete actions to practice the concept of building a maritime community with a shared future in maintaining the safety of international sea lanes and regional peace and stability,” Jiang said in a statement issued in Beijing.
The Chinese Navy first began sending escort fleets to the region in December 2008 after a series of pirate attacks on commercial ships operating near the Horn of Africa. Since then, more than 1500 Chinese and foreign vessels have been escorted by Chinese naval task groups.
The operations are conducted in coordination with other international efforts under United Nations authorisations.
The mission usually involves escorting merchant vessels through high-risk zones, responding to distress calls, and carrying out patrols. The fleet is also responsible for humanitarian assistance and emergency support when required. Over the years, the Chinese Navy has helped rescue commercial ships from hijack attempts and has coordinated with other navies operating in the area.
Zhang Lei, a crew member serving on the guided-missile frigate Daqing, said the mission carries a strong sense of responsibility for the sailors involved.
“Having been able to carry out this escort mission, I deeply feel the weight of our responsibility and the glory of our mission. We will strictly follow the discipline and rules, hone our combat capabilities, and use the distant seas and open ocean as a vast training ground to constantly enhance our ability to carry out diverse missions,” he said before the fleet set sail.
China has regularly rotated its naval fleets for the Gulf of Aden mission, with each deployment lasting several months. The 47th fleet, which will soon return home, has been conducting escort operations since mid-2025. The continuous rotations are part of China’s broader maritime policy to maintain a long-term naval presence in key international waters.
Officials said the new fleet will reach its operational area in the coming weeks and will begin convoy missions immediately after assuming responsibility from the previous group. The fleet will also engage in joint exercises and port calls when conditions permit, as part of ongoing cooperation with other countries that maintain escort operations in the region.
Since the start of its escort missions, China has emphasised that its naval presence in the Gulf of Aden is aimed at supporting international shipping safety and does not target any specific country or group.
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