CHINA-PLA NAVY-ESCORT MISSION-15 YEARS (CN)

(231228) -- BEIJING, Dec. 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Vessels of the 23rd escort mission fleet dispatched by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy are in replenishment operation during their voyage on April 25, 2016. Since December 2008, China has been dispatching naval ships to carry out vessel protection operations in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. Over the past 15 years, 45 consecutive fleets, 150 vessels and 35,000 personnel of the PLA Navy have joined the efforts, escorting more than 7,200 Chinese and foreign vessels, including 12 World Food Program ships. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Chinese navy's 15-year quest for peace in Gulf of Aden, waters off Somalia" (Photo by Qian Hong/Xinhua)