CRI: Chinese fleet 800 men fight Somalia pirates, cause tension

The Chinese naval fleet set sail at 1:50 p.m. on Friday from a port here in the southernmost island province of Hainan for Somalia. The ships will take part in an escort mission against piracy.

The warships of the People's Liberation Army Navy, decorated by colored ribbons and flowers, were unmoored at the military port by crew members in white naval uniforms who saluted the crowds who saw them off.

Two destroyers, DDG-169 Wuhan and DDG-171 Haikou, and the supply ship Weishanhu from the South China Sea Fleet will cruise for about 10 days to arrive in the Gulf of Aden, joining the multinational patrol in one of the world's busiest sea lanes where surging piracy endangers international shipping.

The fleet will carry about 800 crew members, including 70 soldiers from the Navy's special force. It's equipped with missiles, cannons and light weapons.

Money hunters Somali pirates have attacked 110 ships in the Gulf of Aden this year, successfully hijacking 42.Most were released after a ransom was paid, though 14, with more than 240 crew, are still being held. Pirates have made an estimated $30 million hijacking ships for ransom this year.
 More than a dozen warships are now patrolling the vast gulf.Countries as diverse as Britain, India, Iran, America, France and Germany have naval forces in the waters or on their way there.