The Chinese Navy announced that one of its warships successfully foiled a potential pirate attack targeting a commercial vessel transiting the Gulf of Aden in the Red Sea.

In a statement issued on Thursday, China’s Defense Ministry stated that the guided-missile destroyer Baotou (Hull 133) intervened while escorting the commercial ship Ruisong on February 1, after detecting two suspicious boats approaching the vessel.

The ministry clarified that the Chinese Navy executed “warning and deterrent measures,” which forced the boats to retreat, neutralizing the threat without casualties or damage.

This incident comes amid escalating reports of armed group activity in the region, fueled by concerns over alleged collusion between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and extremist groups in Somalia to destabilize regional security and target international commercial shipping.

In December, China announced the deployment of a new naval fleet to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to safeguard civilian vessels and combat piracy in strategic maritime corridors.