The drill was carried out by the Chinese Navy’s 49th Escort Task Force and focused on testing rapid-response capabilities in the event of a ship hijacking.

Participating forces simulated counter-piracy operations, including vessel boarding, pirate apprehension, and the rescue of crew members.

The exercise comes amid a noticeable increase in piracy-related incidents in the region. On August 17, the cargo vessel MV LUTUF was reportedly hijacked off the Puntland coast.

Just days later, on August 20, an oil tanker identified as Sibu 1 was seized off the coast of Yemen and was reportedly redirected toward Somalia.

The recent incidents have renewed concerns about maritime security along one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean through the Gulf of Aden.

China has maintained a continuous naval presence in the region since 2008, conducting escort missions and counter-piracy operations aimed at protecting international shipping and deterring pirate activity in Somali waters and nearby sea lanes.

Chinese officials say the latest exercise was designed to strengthen operational readiness and ensure naval forces can respond effectively to emerging maritime security threats in the region.

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