China to Dispatch Navy to Fight Somali Pirates

A Chinese military expert says it will be a special task for China to send warships overseas to join the international effort in fighting piracy.

Song Xiaojun's remarks followed the announcement by China's Foreign Ministry that China is making preparations to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast to fight rampant piracy.

"This will be an unconventional mission for the navy of a member country of the UN security council. We are not going there solely to escort our liners, but to join the efforts in the fight against piracy as part of the international community."

A statement on the Foreign Ministry's website says it will make a formal announcement when things are ready.

Military sources admit it will be the first time for Chinese navy to carry out escort missions outside Chinese waters, and the mission is in line with related resolutions of the United Nations on combating pirates off the Somali coast.

The United States, NATO and other countries have already sent naval forces to patrol the area.

Earlier this week a Chinese cargo ship was involved in a dramatic rescue after being hijacked.

The 30-member crew fought for five hours against pirates with the help of a multi-national coalition force. No injuries or deaths were reported.

Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Company, the parent company that owns the vessel, has decided to award 300,000 US dollars to the crew of the Motor Vessel Zhen Hua-4.

Cao Wenfa is vice president of the company.

"The company has made the decision to reward all the crew on the vessel because they protected company property and safeguarded the country's reputation. We have also prepared a welcome ceremony for their return."

Zhen Hua-4 is expected to return to Shanghai on January the 10th.