← Daily Brief
Military Diplomacy
China to send new naval escort fleet to Gulf of Aden, Somali waters
China Military Online (EN)
11 August 2026
View original source ↗
Summary
China's 49th naval escort task force — comprising the guided-missile destroyer Kunming, guided-missile frigate Yueyang, and comprehensive supply ship Luomahu — will deploy to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters in mid-August, relieving the 48th fleet, which has been on station since October 2024. The rotation extends an unbroken deployment cycle China has maintained since 2008, now covering over 7,000 escorted vessels. The ministry's invocation of a 'maritime community with a shared future' frames a routine force-rotation announcement in broader multilateral legitimacy language, but the article documents operational continuity rather than any change in fleet composition, rules of engagement, or mission scope.
Translation
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China will send a new naval escort fleet to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia in mid-August to carry out an escort mission, the country's Ministry of National Defense announced on Tuesday. The deployment marks the 49th Chinese naval escort fleet to operate in the region, and it will take over duties from the 48th fleet, which set sail in October last year, the ministry said in a statement. The latest fleet consists of the guided-missile destroyer Kunming, the guided-missile frigate Yueyang and the comprehensive supply ship Luomahu, according to the statement. The ministry statement said the Chinese navy is committed to building and supporting a maritime community with a shared future and contributing to the security of global sea lanes as well as regional peace and stability. In line with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, China has maintained a regular naval escort presence in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters since 2008 to safeguard the security of international shipping routes, escorting over 7,000 Chinese and foreign vessels, and rescuing, protecting or assisting ships in distress. The naval ships also participated in evacuations of Chinese citizens and foreign nationals from some war-torn countries.
Original text
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China will send a new naval escort fleet to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia in mid-August to carry out an escort mission, the country's Ministry of National Defense announced on Tuesday. The deployment marks the 49th Chinese naval escort fleet to operate in the region, and it will take over duties from the 48th fleet, which set sail in October last year, the ministry said in a statement. The latest fleet consists of the guided-missile destroyer Kunming, the guided-missile frigate Yueyang and the comprehensive supply ship Luomahu, according to the statement. The ministry statement said the Chinese navy is committed to building and supporting a maritime community with a shared future and contributing to the security of global sea lanes as well as regional peace and stability. In line with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, China has maintained a regular naval escort presence in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters since 2008 to safeguard the security of international shipping routes, escorting over 7,000 Chinese and foreign vessels, and rescuing, protecting or assisting ships in distress. The naval ships also participated in evacuations of Chinese citizens and foreign nationals from some war-torn countries.
