China begins anti-piracy mission

[Monkey King]

Three Chinese naval ships have set sail for waters off Somalia to protect Chinese vessels from pirate attacks.

Two destroyers and a supply ship left the port of Sanya on Hainan island to join warships from other nations already patrolling the area.

It will be the Chinese navy's first operation beyond the Pacific.

There have been more than 100 pirate attacks this year off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest sea lanes.

On Thursday, the German navy said it had foiled an attempt by pirates to hijack an Egyptian cargo vessel off Somalia.

Six Somali pirates were captured by sailors of the frigate Karlsruhe in the Gulf of Aden. However, the pirates were immediately released on the orders of the German government, officials told the BBC.

Japan's prime minister also indicated that his country was considering sending ships to help combat piracy.

"Each nation is taking measures. So, Japan should also take its own steps," Taro Aso said.

'International scourge'

The commander of China's South Sea Fleet, Rear Adm Du Jingchen, said his personnel were prepared for a complicated and long-term mission.

"Acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters off Somalia have been increasingly rampant since the beginning of this year, posing a severe danger to the safety of ships and members from many countries, including China," China's Defence Ministry spokesman Huang Xueping said.

"Apart from this, pirates have also been threatening ships delivering humanitarian relief items to Somalia by international organisations. Piracy has become an international scourge."

The Chinese military says there have been seven attacks this year on Chinese vessels in the area.

It says its forces will board and inspect suspected pirate ships, try to rescue those who are attacked and mount a vigorous defence if they themselves come under attack.

However, defence ministry officials insist that China's doctrine of non-interference in other nations' affairs has not changed, the BBC's Chris Hogg in Beijing says.

The Chinese will work with other members of the international task force in the area. China has no bases in the region so keeping its forces well supplied during what is expected to be a lengthy deployment is a major challenge, our correspondent adds.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7799899.stm

[Guest Rick Research]

"Six Somali pirates were captured by sailors of the frigate Karlsruhe in the Gulf of Aden. However, the pirates were immediately released on the orders of the German government, officials told the BBC."

Idiocy. Idiocy in a year when the world will see what putting feeble poll-sniffing idiots "in charge" means when dealing with monsters.

Maybe the PRC will be less dainty--given their record with their own criminal element one would presume so-- and actually

deal with the problem.

Morons at sea. Morons ashore. Cowards and buffoons everywhere.

Idiots.

[Theodor]

Maybe they mean "released overboard with a cannonball tied to the legs" :rolleyes:

[Guest Rick Research]

THAT would be in accord with not only law of the sea since time immemorial but with sanity.

Alas, I am sure they were patted on the head, given their rubber boat back-- and returned their "private property" weapons (oh, unloaded, surely) and told not to do it again.

Idiocy.

Idiocy.

Idiocy.

Fools and monsters.

What a world, what a world.

[Chris Boonzaier]

"Six Somali pirates were captured by sailors of the frigate Karlsruhe in the Gulf of Aden. However, the pirates were immediately released on the orders of the German government, officials told the BBC."

Idiocy. Idiocy in a year when the world will see what putting feeble poll-sniffing idiots "in charge" means when dealing with monsters.

Maybe the PRC will be less dainty--given their record with their own criminal element one would presume so-- and actually

deal with the problem.

Morons at sea. Morons ashore. Cowards and buffoons everywhere.

Idiots.

If I read correctly they stopped a boat that had armed men in it, having no proof of wrong doing they confiscated the stuff then had to release them.

Not being the armed forces of the land of the free they did not have the option of saying "hmmmm... a dark skinned man in rags with a gun!" and making them disappear without trial to a Caribbean island until it was found out that they were whisked away and held for 5 years for nowt.

Cowards and buffoons that they are they just had to respect international law....

[Chris Boonzaier]

The same 6 guys ;-)

They sure get around....

(CNN) -- U.S. naval forces hunting pirates off Somalia detained six people this week who appeared to be pursuing a commercial shipping vessel, but soon released them because of a lack of evidence.

A Yemeni Coast Guard boat patrols the Gulf of Aden for pirates who threaten shipping.

A Yemeni Coast Guard boat patrols the Gulf of Aden for pirates who threaten shipping.

The Navy said on Saturday the six matched the description of suspected pirates aboard a skiff in the area. The naval crew saw the men throwing objects overboard before they picked up the suspects.

Investigators didn't say what was thrown overboard but said the evidence was not sufficient "to hold the suspects for prosecution."

The detentions reflect the aggressive U.S.-led fight against piracy. The United States is spearheading an international naval task force in the waters off Somalia that launched in February after a rash of attacks.

[Obergefreiter]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there a time when the Royal Navy delt with scum like that by hanging them from a yardarm? What exactly does international law say about piracy?