中国国防部2008年12月20日宣布,中国人民解放军海军舰艇编队将于12月26日从三亚启航前往亚丁湾、索马里海域实施护航。其实,早在12月17日,中国外交部副部长何亚非在联合国发表讲话时就表示中国正在考虑向亚丁湾派遣军舰,保护商船免受索马里海盗的袭击。此言一出,就引起了世界各国媒体的广泛关注。外媒纷纷认为,对于过去—直在本国海域执行任务的中国海军来说,这支“新郑和舰队”的出航可谓意义重大。 On December 20, 2008, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s fleet will sail to the Gulf of Aden from Sanya on December 26, and escort the Somali waters. In fact, as early as December 17, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said in his address to the United Nations that China is considering sending warships to the Gulf of Aden to protect merchant ships from Somali pirates. When this remark is made, it has aroused widespread media attention in various countries in the world. The foreign media all think that for the Chinese navy, which was in the past to carry out its mission in the maritime area of ​​its own country, the departure of this “Xinzheng fleet” is of great significance.