Posts Tagged Singapore

Somali pirates hijacked a Singapore ship, 19 Chinese crew were abducted

28 Somali pirates hijacked a ship in the Gulf of Aden, Singapore ship, 19 Chinese sailors on board the unfortunate hostage. It is reported that ship displacement of 14,000 tons of goods carried by ocean-going vessels containing toxic substances as antifreeze materials. The round of distress is located at the northern waters of Somalia, an international convoy recommended “relatively safe passage.”

EU anti-piracy fleet spokesman said the incident before the ship named “Jinfu number” of the ship is en route from Saudi Arabia to India. Abduction, the ship about 95 km from the Somali coastline. At present, the “Jinfu No.” on the 19 Chinese crew members were safe, the ship being near the Somali port. Owners and relevant government agencies are active in rescue work.

Up to now, the hands of Somali pirates still seized a cargo ship more than 10 countries and hundreds of ships waiting for the crew ransom. In the past 19 years, Somalia has been in a state of civil war without the Government, a large number of pirates “came into being.” Perpetrators of these people crazy, each succeeding one will be able to obtain millions of dollars in ransom. Gulf of Aden in northern Somalia became the most rampant piracy activities in the waters.

Affected by successive years of war, Somalia is an extremely poor country, but local average annual income of 500 dollars. If you join the pirate organization, whose annual income will be easy to break through 20,000 U.S. dollars. Thus, while the Navy has increased the national crackdown, but the number of Somali pirates are still committing crimes on the rise. Compared to last year, the number of pirates this year, even more than doubled.

As the national navy increased efforts in the Gulf of Aden to escort them from receiving the alarm to the scene as long as 15 minutes or so, so greatly reduced the rate of piracy perpetrators succeed. In addition, ships have often taken the past through the dangerous waters at night, also reduces the possibility of being hijacked by pirates. Anti-piracy experts said, as long as the guard ship, the idea is holding pirates 5-15 minutes, you can get effective relief from the Navy.

As the majority of the Somali area in eastern Indian Ocean, passing ships and more successful pirates always grasping air. The International Maritime Bureau figures released in 2009, the Somali pirate attacks off the coast of 214, at least 47 ships were hijacked, accounting for more than half of global piracy. This year, pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia more than 70, which the pirates succeeded at least 22 times.

As the frequency of pirate activities in Somalia, a large number of small carriers to hedge while suspended, a number of foreign vessels no longer stops at piracy within the scope of supply ports. Rampant activities of Somali pirates against ships to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coastal countries suffer huge economic losses. Generally felt that the navy convoy was not long-term solution, just to Somalia to restore order and the legal system to solve the pirate problem.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed disappointment that the visit of China refused

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed disappointment that the visit of China refused

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates

 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates scheduled to visit China next week, he was China’s “rejection.” In response, Gates said at a press interview, he expressed its “disappointment” and said the Chinese military seems “unwilling” to start such a bilateral dialogue.

June 3, according to Agence France-Presse reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the 3rd, he was China’s “cancel” the decision of his original plan to visit China was “disappointed” and said the Chinese military “reluctance” and the United States bilateral dialogue.

Gates to visit China for the unpaired, Western analysis of the reasons most media said, this may be because the U.S. arms sales plan due. For example, Reuters reported that 2 “from the Obama administration in January to submit to Congress the value of up to 64 million since the report of arms sales to Taiwan, China and the United States has been postponed a number of high-level military exchanges.”

2 in the Asian security conference in Singapore on his way, Gates told reporters on the plane, he was in January a U.S. arms sales plan to do some “excuse.” He said this is not anything new, it did not affect the Beijing political or economic relations. He said, “In fact, these military programs since the beginning of Sino-US relations have” arms sales to Taiwan “did not restrain China’s political and economic relations.”

According to Agence France-Presse reported that PLA Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of staff will also attend the Asia Security Conference in Singapore, but U.S. officials said Gates would not talk with Ma Xiaotian.

3-day Chinese Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu’s Remarks on U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates media coverage was scheduled to visit China next week, said China’s refusal, at present, high-level Sino-US military exchanges have not yet arrangements. She said, “On Sino-US military relations, I suggest you ask the Department of Defense. We attach importance to Sino-US high-level military exchanges, as far as I know, no concrete arrangements.”

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