Chinese Warships Gather in Gulf of Aden for Naval Handover Ceremony

The PLA Navy's 47th and 48th escort task groups sail in formation in the Gulf of Aden on November 1, 2025. Video via the PLA Navy.

Six Chinese warships recently converged in the Gulf of Aden for a handover ceremony as one task force group relieved another to conduct patrols as part of the multinational anti-piracy operations.

China has been an active participant in this initiative since it was launched in 2008, when Somali pirates terrorized commercial shipping. Today, though, piracy in the Gulf of Aden is much less of an issue, prompting some to question why the Chinese continue to participate in the program.

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by Eric Olander

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