Step by Step 3000 第3册 Unit1:Anti–piracy mission(2)

B. Keywords.

Chinese naval task force, escort mission.

Vocabulary.

rear admiral.

Here is a report on Chinese navy's military move against piracy. Supply the missing information.
The Chinese naval task force has set sail from a port in the southernmost island province of Hainan for Somalia.
The ships will take part in an escort mission against piracy.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi elaborated upon the significance of the military move.
The escorting mission of the Chinese navy has won wide applause from the international community, especially African countries and people.
China is supportive to the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and efforts of the global cooperation in combatting piracy.
And we are willing to keep contact and cooperation with other countries' naval force on this issue.
Earlier, the fleet commander, rear admiral Du Jingcheng said all crew members on the fleet had full confidence in their ability to fulfill the mission.
According to the official, the primary mission of the Chinese fleet is to secure vessels, personnel and cargo, but not to hit piracy off the Somali coast directly.
Our target is, on one hand, to protect the ships and personnel passing through the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia.
On the other hand, we are in charge of safeguarding the vessels transporting humanitarian materials from the international organizations.
However, we will take relevant measures under the direct threat from pirates.
Du Jingcheng added the combined crew comes to about 800 and includes 70 soliders from the Navy's Special Forces.
They will be joining a multi-national fleet of warships already patrolling off the waters of the Somali coast and the Gulf of Aden.
The first phase of the mission will last for three months.
And the navy will send new ships to relieve the fleet at an appropriate time, depending on the situation and the UN Security Council.
It will also help ships carrying humanitarian relief for international organizations such the UN World Food Program.
The fleet will not charge escort service or protection fees to ships, whether foreign or domestic.
The fleet will be ready to receive protection appeals on January 6th.
Official data shows that nearly 1,300 Chinese commercial vessels have passed through the gulf so far this year, and 7 of them were attacked.