Hong Kong (Earth Times) - Chinese army soldiers are being deployed on board Hong Kong-registered ships sailing off Africa to counter the threat of pirates, a newspaper reported Monday. The People's Liberation Army is providing special forces soldiers to patrol slower, vulnerable Hong Kong-registered ships as they sail through the Gulf of Aden, the South China Morning Post said.
Roger Tupper, director of Hong Kong's Marine Department, said the offer of armed soldiers had been accepted by ships registered in Hong Kong although it was not known how many escorts had been provided.
Naval officials involved in the operation off Somalia told the newspaper the teams of soldiers were drawn from China's deployment of three warships stationed off Somalia.
Other Hong Kong shipping companies operating bulk carriers have accepted escorts from the Chinese warships as they pass through the pirate-plagued seas but not armed soldiers on board their vessels.
Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" arrangement and has a sizable but low-profile contingent of Chinese army soldiers stationed in the city.
Roger Tupper, director of Hong Kong's Marine Department, said the offer of armed soldiers had been accepted by ships registered in Hong Kong although it was not known how many escorts had been provided.
Naval officials involved in the operation off Somalia told the newspaper the teams of soldiers were drawn from China's deployment of three warships stationed off Somalia.
Other Hong Kong shipping companies operating bulk carriers have accepted escorts from the Chinese warships as they pass through the pirate-plagued seas but not armed soldiers on board their vessels.
Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" arrangement and has a sizable but low-profile contingent of Chinese army soldiers stationed in the city.
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