China has stationed six warships in the Middle East this week.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING — Several Chinese warships have been stationed in the Middle East since May 2023. The fleet was recently joined by warships that the United States (US) sent to the region last week, potentially increasing tensions.
As Israel continues its campaign of air strikes in Gaza, a new report quoted by Sputnik reveals that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has stationed six warships in the Middle East this week. According to the Chinese Ministry of Defense website, the PLA’s 44th naval escort task force is in Oman conducting joint exercises with the country’s navy.
This exercise was carried out during routine operations involving these ships in the Middle East region since May. The warships include guided missile destroyers, integrated supply ships and frigates.
The South China Morning Post report stated that the task force included the Zibo, a Type 052D guided missile destroyer and the frigate Jingzhou. The fleet also has the integrated supply vessel Qiandaohu.
Chinese state media reported that the task force left the capital Muscat on Saturday (21/10/2023). The fleet was en route to an unspecified destination.
The new convoy is led by the PLA’s Northern Theater command and includes another Type 052 destroyer, Urumqi, as well as the frigate Linyi, and the supply ship Dongpinghu.
This report coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call for a ceasefire and humanitarian corridor in Gaza. His comments came during a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.
State media quoted Xi as telling Madbouly that China supported Egypt’s efforts to let humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Chinese leader’s words were his first statements regarding the conflict that erupted on October 7 after Hamas launched an unexpected attack on Israel.
Meanwhile, the United States (US) has sent warships to the eastern Mediterranean near Israel to protect US interests there. “The president as commander in chief will do what he must do to safeguard [US] national security interests,” said US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby last week.
Dwight D Eisenhower’s carrier strike group was en route to the region on 19 October. The deployment of another command ship USS Mount Whitney was also announced.
Source : Republika
