Chinese navy escorts 4,734 ships in Somali waters

Chinese warships had escorted 4,734 vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters by Monday, a Ministry of Defense spokesman said Tuesday. Geng Yansheng told a press conference Tuesday that since December 2008, the Chinese navy had dispatched 12 batches of 31 warships to engage in joint escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia. Geng, quoted by Xinhua news agency, noted that over 20,000 Chinese have participated various joint-UN peacekeeping operations, and about 10 percent of them are currently serving in 11 missions. China has also offered minesweeping assistance to 22 countries. To boost international military exchanges and mutual trust, China's military has established military ties with over 150 countries and conducts regular strategic consultations and dialogues with defense departments and militaries of 22 countries, Geng added.