CCTV Video News Agency recently posted a short clip titled "China's 45th Naval Fleet Conducts Anti-Terrorism Drill in Gulf of Aden."
The video shows PLA Navy ships comprising the 45th Naval Fleet (destroyer Urumqi, frigate Linyi, and supply ship Dongpinghu) recently training in the Gulf of Aden for hypothetical antipiracy and counterterrorism operations. At the same time, Iranian-supported Houthis in Yemen are attacking with drones and missiles international shipping in the nearby Red Sea, forcing many shipping companies to reroute their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope. China's state-owned COSCO and Orient Overseas Container Line, which is part of the COSCO Group, have rerouted their ships to avoid possible Houthi attacks.
The United States, which relies minimally on the Red Sea for commercial transport, is leading an international naval effort to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. China, which has a significant interest in Red Sea commercial shipping, has naval vessels in the area but apparently has decided not to use them even to protect vessels flagged and owned by China. Curious.
