Chinese downplay Somali pirate ransom

[jeypore]

A ransom paid just days ago for the crew of the Chinese-flagged merchant vessel De Xin Hai has delayed for now a Chinese choice of continuing to patrol off of Somalia as part of an international array of warships or risk the lives of ships' hostages, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

While there has been no official Chinese government mention of a ransom payment – said to be some $4 million – Chinese warships were seen escorting the vessel which had been in the hands of Somali pirates.

The De Xin Hai with a crew of 25 was hijacked by Somali pirates last October in the Indian Ocean. It was the first Chinese ship captured by pirates since three Chinese warships joined an international anti-piracy force in the Gulf of Aden last January.

To date, ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, have escorted more than 1,100 vessels under different flags, including some from Taiwan.

Just before the ship's release, a Somali pirate said that a helicopter had dropped the ransom on the deck of the ship.

Keep in touch with the most important breaking news stories about critical developments around the globe with Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, the premium, online intelligence news source edited and published by the founder of WND.

Official Chinese statements, however, avoided any mention of a ransom payment, and for good reason. The capture of the Chinese vessel and its crew was an embarrassment to the Chinese government. Any failed rescue attempt would have risked further embarrassment for China due to the loss of prestige on its first overseas military venture.

Before the ship's release, Somali pirates had warned the Chinese government that they would kill the ship's crew.

Speaking from the ship by phone in early December, one pirate warned, "We know the Chinese have arrayed their warships in Somalia waters to attack us. …We are telling them not to gamble with the lives of the Chinese teenagers in our hands. Honestly. We will kill if we are attacked."

Despite calls from the families of the Chinese crew, the government chose not to engage the pirates in any rescue operations as other countries such as the French, Indian and U.S. navies have performed.

Indeed, French commandos last April had attacked a hijacked yacht and rescued four French hostages. While three pirates were arrested, the yacht's skipper was killed in the crossfire.

Following the French rescue of a hijacked yacht, U.S. snipers killed three Somali pirates and rescued the hijacked Maersk Alabama and its crew.

"If they have started killing us, we have decided to take revenge and kill any American or French crew or passenger members of ships we capture fishing in our seas," a Somali pirate warned following the sniper killings.

In late 2008, an Indian warship had destroyed a pirate mother ship after it ignored warnings and threatened to fire on the warship. In early December, Indian marine commandoes prevented the hijacking of a Norwegian ship.

To date, the Chinese have not shown such assertiveness.
Chinese downplay Somali pirate ransom