Up to six Chinese warships have been operating in the Middle East over the past week, according to reports.
The 44th naval escort task force has been involved in routine operations in the area since May and last week spent several days on a visit to Oman, including a joint exercise with the country’s navy, according to the Chinese defence ministry website.
The task force left the capital Muscat on Saturday, en route for an unspecified destination, state media reported.
During the visit, Chinese commanders met Omani military officials and visited military institutions, while sailors from both countries toured each other’s shops. They also organised a basketball game, according to the state news agency Xinhua.
It has been involved in escort missions for shipping since arriving in the Gulf of Aden north of Somalia six months ago and handed over its mission to the 45th escort task force earlier this month.
The new convoy, from the PLA’s Northern Theatre command, consists of another Type 052 destroyer, the Urumqi; the frigate Linyi and supply ship Dongpinghu.
The Linyi took part in its first mission, escorting a Panamanian cargo ship in an unknown location, earlier this month, according to Xinhua.
The naval presence means that six Chinese vessels were operating in Middle Eastern waters as tensions mounted in the region.
In the wake of the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, the US sent its most advanced carrier the USS Gerald R Ford and its battle group to the eastern Mediterranean.
The Dwight D Eisenhower carrier strike group is also on its way to the region. On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced the deployment of an additional command ship, the USS Mount Whitney, to the eastern Mediterranean.
Several countries, including Britain, Germany and France, have sent military or civilian planes to evacuate their nationals from Israel.
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