Two Chinese destroyers and a supply ship are on their way to join other foreign warships on anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia. This is a milestone for a navy that has long focused on coastal defence and lacked the capability to project power overseas. It is likely to be the first of an increasing number of long-distance deployments as China takes its place among the top ranks of world navies in the next few decades.
Beijing's decision follows that of the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council (Britain, France, Russia and the US) to send warships to the pirate-plagued waters. It is the first time since the Communist Party came to power in 1949 that the Chinese navy has been used to protect UN aid shipments, key maritime trade routes and Chinese vessels in foreign waters.
Last April, President Hu Jintao , who is also chairman of the party's Central Military Commission, inspected the naval base at Sanya on Hainan Island, from where the flotilla embarked. He called for a stronger navy and faster shipbuilding.
And, if there had been any doubts about China's plans to develop into a major naval power, Mr Hu dispelled them two years ago this month. 'In the process of protecting the nation's authority and security, and maintaining our maritime rights, the navy's role is very important,' he said, adding that it should be ready to protect the country's interests 'at any time'.
A report to the US Congress last month said that, since the early 1990s, China has bought four Sovremenny-class destroyers armed with supersonic anti-ship missiles from Russia and deployed nine new classes of home-built destroyers and frigates. Some of the vessels coming out of Chinese shipyards are variations of one another. They are only being produced in small numbers. However, mass production of advanced frigates has started and serial construction of destroyers is expected to follow. These will be part of the backbone of a modern battle fleet with increasingly global reach.
According to the US Defence Department, China already has the largest force in Asia of principal surface combatants, submarines and amphibious warfare ships able to carry troops and armoured vehicles. Its navy has 29 destroyers, 45 frigates, 26 tank landing ships, 28 medium landing ships, 54 diesel attack submarines, five nuclear attack submarines and 45 missile-armed coastal patrol craft. Of these 232 vessels, 168 are in China's east and south sea fleets.
Although increasing steadily, China's international naval power is still limited by a lack of experience of working with other forces or in sustaining its own military operations far from China. Its anti-piracy operation will help expand this experience.