The 20th fleet of China's navy left east China's port city of Zhoushan for the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to escort civil ships, local reports said on Friday.
The fleet is comprised of missile destroyer Jinan, missile frigate Yiyang and supply ship Qiandaohu. It is equipped with two helicopters and staffed by dozens of special operation soldiers and more than 800 officers and soldiers.
Chinese naval forces have carried out escort missions in the area for over six years. During this period it has escorted almost 6,000 Chinese and foreign ships passing the waters.