China to deploy ships off Somalia

BEIJING, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- China is deploying three navy vessels off the coast of Somalia to fight pirates, an official said.

Xinhua reported Saturday that the Chinese ships -- two destroyers and a supply ship -- will patrol the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia.

The Ministry of Defense said the vessels will leave Sanya, in southern China's Hainan province, on Dec. 26.

The state-run news service said the ships are being asked to protect Chinese cargo ships, as well as vessels carrying humanitarian relief.

Already, the United States, NATO and other countries have already sent naval forces to patrol the piracy-plagued waters off Somalia.

"Chinese naval vessels will strictly follow U.N. Security Council resolutions and international laws. They are willing to work with other countries and to take part in humanitarian relief tasks," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao was quoted as saying.