The guided missile destroyer “Changchun” of the 17th escort taskforce of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAN) completed a successful escort mission with the “Nawa 3”, a ship belonging to the World Food Program (WFP), which reached the sea area near Somalia’s Bossaso Port on May 24 2014, carrying humanitarian relief materials.

This is the eighth occasion on which a Chinese naval escort taskforce has escorted a ship carrying humanitarian aid on behalf of the WFP. Throughout the journey the “Changchun” provided an escort to the Nawa 3, deploying its weapons to ensure the safety of the escorted ship, and guaranteeing its communications.

The Chinese Navy attended a related international conference held by the WFP in 2010, and promised to dispatch its warships to join escort missions. The participation of the Chinese Navy in these escort missions demonstrates its commitment to meeting its international obligations.

 The article is edited and translated from《海军第17批护航编队完成护航世界粮食计划署船》, source: China Military Online, author: Ding Yubao, Liu Yaxun.