Communist China has dispatched six warships to the Middle East as tensions escalate in the region over Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
China sent its 44th naval escort task force – from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre – to the Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait on Oct. 18.
The convoy includes the Zibo and the Urumqi, both Type 052D guided-missile destroyers, the frigate Jingzhou, the integrated supply ship Qiandaohu, the frigate Linyi, and a supply ship Dongpinghu.
The Chinese task force commander said, “This year marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Kuwait strategic partnership and also the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. It is hoped that this visit will help facilitate mutual understanding and trust and promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and militaries.”
The convoy had been present in the Gulf of Aden conducting regular operations in the region since May and just finished a naval exercise with the Oman navy.
But the convoy’s presence in the Middle East is seen as increasingly significant as U.S. Department of Defense deployed two carrier strike groups to the region last week.
Additionally, the U.S. has put troops on “prepare-to-deploy” status in addition to sending missile defense systems to several military installations in the Middle East in the wake of escalations by Iran and its proxies.
According to Chinese state TV, Chairman Xi Jinping said of Israel’s conflict with Hamas, “The top priority now is a ceasefire as soon as possible, to avoid the conflict from expanding or even spiraling out of control and causing a serious humanitarian crisis.”
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