"In December 2008, Chinese leaders announced that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) would join the anti-piracy efforts off the Horn of Africa.1 This decision reflects China’s increasing global interests and the threat posed to them by non-traditional security concerns, particularly the rise in piracy that has disrupted shipping traffic in the critical sea lanes that run through the Gulf of Aden.2 The international community has been battling such threats in the region for many years, but until recently China has avoided cooperative maritime security efforts with other countries ..." (Quoted from article)