QINGDAO - The 11th group of Chinese navy escort ships left a port in Qingdao, a city in East China's Shandong province, on Tuesday for an escort mission on the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters.

The new fleet, including the destroyer Qingdao, the frigate Yantai and the supply ship Weishanhu, will replace a flotilla previously sent to guard against pirates.

To date, the Chinese navy fleets have escorted over 4,500 ships from countries all over the world and have rescued and provided help for more than 50 ships.