Backgrounder: International community's response to piracy off Somalia

BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Chinese media) -- Two destroyers and one supply ship from the

Chinese South China Sea Fleet set sail from a port in the southernmost city of

Sanya on Friday to patrol in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of

Somalia.

China is acting in concert with other nations in accordance with the

resolution of the United Nations Security Council to use military force to

combat piracy. The UN Security Council approved resolution 1816 in June,

following increased report of hijackings off the Somali coast. The resolution is

valid for six months.

The ships' task is to protect the safety of Chinese ships and crew as well

as ships carrying humanitarian relief for the international organizations of the

United Nations.

The UN Security Council later adopted three more resolutions calling on the

international community to take an active part in the fight against piracy off

the Somali coast.

Resolution 1851, authorized for one year international military operations

on Somali territory. Unlike previous resolutions, it empowered states combating

piracy to conduct operations on land in Somalia.

A Russian navy commander announced on Sept. 23 that Russia resolved to send

warships to the waters off Somalia to fight piracy along the African coast.

A Russian destroyer sailed to the area by way of Suez Canal. The Russian

commander announced on Nov. 20 that Russia would send more naval ships for

regular patrol, preventing pirates raiding commercial vessels.

The American navy sent several warships to the area on Sept. 29. The U.S.

vessels and ships from Russia and other countries, surrounded a Ukrainian

ammunition vessel that robbed by pirates.

Indian Defense Ministry announced on Oct. 17 that a large warship, equipped

with helicopter and storm troops on board, would be sent to patrol the seas off

Somalia.

NATO sent three warships from England, Italy and Greece to the area on Oct.

24 to protect food-carrying vessels of the World Food Program. This action

concluded on Dec. 12.

The EU started a military action on Dec. 8, which sent six warships and

three scouts to the waters off Somalia. The action was to safeguard the

foodstuff vessels of the World Food Program as well as other commercial ships

and prevent and fight piracy and other armed robbery.

The Iranian State Radio reported on Dec. 20 that Iran had sent a warship to

patrol the Gulf of Aden to protect Iranian ships passing through the area.

The South Korean government also announced they would send warships to the

waters off Somalia, joining the international military action overseas. If the

plan was approved by the South Korean Parliament, South Korea would deploy the

warships at the beginning of 2009.

Japan was also seeking approval to allow its warships to enter the area.