The De Xin Hai, captured 700 nautical miles east of Somalia in October, was ransomed for $4 million on Sunday. Although China has operated patrols for a year now in the narrow Gulf of Aden, escorting Chinese and foreign ships through waters plagued by pirates operating off the Somali coast, but coal and ore shipping lanes off the east coast of Africa have proved harder to defend.
On Tuesday, Rear Admiral Yin Zhou, proposed that China establish a permanent naval base in the Gulf of Aden region to support Chinese ships taking part in anti-piracy operations.
“I believe that a relatively stable, relatively solid base for resupply and repair would be appropriate,” said Yin, who is director of an advisory committee for the Chinese navy’s drive to upgrade information technology.
Yin also added that “I think countries near any relatively long-term supply bases established by China, and other countries participating in the escort mission, could understand.”
Foreign Concerns
Other countries have been closely monitoring China’s international deployments for signs of increasing assertiveness in its foreign defense policy.
Leaders in Beijing are sensitive to these concerns; the first ships deployed in the Gulf spent more than 4 months at sea without docking.
"We didn't want to arouse unnecessary suspicion from some Western countries," Mr. Yin explained.
"Gradually, everyone saw we are there to carry out legitimate international duties and we are helping ships from other countries as well," he said.
The Chinese navy has not been in this part if the world since the Ming Dynasty.
During the 15th Century, Chinese naval explorers reached the East African coast, visiting Mogadishu and Malindi, even taking back a giraffe and a zebra as souvenirs.
Do you think China will establish a naval base in the Gulf of Aden region?
