China sent large military reinforcements to the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, coinciding with the US redeployment of its warships off the most important sea lane in the region.
The Chinese Xinhua News Agency reported that the 47th fleet, which includes “a missile frigate, a supply ship and a guided missile destroyer”, in addition to 700 soldiers, sailed from the port of Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province to the Gulf of Aden.
The agency reported that the fleet will protect commercial ships, and the new fleet will be stationed off the Somali coast. The fleet, according to the agency, conducted military exercises that focused mainly on armed rescue operations for hijacked ships and combating piracy.
China’s announcement of the deployment of a new fleet in the Gulf of Aden came with the US Defense Department announcing the redeployment of an aircraft carrier and two frigates off the coast of the Red Sea, which includes one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.
China fears that America will carry out retaliatory operations in response to its position demanding an end to the aggression on Gaza in exchange for a halt to Yemeni operations in the Red Sea.
China and the US are engaged in a geopolitical race to control shipping lanes around the world. The new development in the region may herald the two sides entering into direct conflict.
