ISTANBUL
China on Tuesday said that a fishing vessel hijacked by armed men off Somalia was safely rescued Monday, warning that any attempt to disrupt ties between the two countries will fail.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy condemned the hijacking as a “blatantly vicious action” that put the crew and international shipping at risk.
It said Beijing will continue to take “all necessary means to resolutely safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and enterprises overseas” and coordinate with relevant parties to maintain maritime security.
“Any attempts to undermine or disrupt China-Somalia cooperation are bound to fail in vain,” the embassy said, citing “profound traditional friendship.”
It said China maintained close coordination with Somalia’s federal and Puntland state authorities during the incident, which took place in waters off the semiautonomous state’s coast.
Mogadishu reiterated that Chinese fishing vessels operate in Somali waters with official permission and in full compliance with local laws, according to the diplomatic mission.
It said the Somali government underlined that it takes China’s security concerns seriously and is ready to cooperate on mutually beneficial areas, including the fishing industry.
China pledged to continue cooperating with Mogadishu across various sectors to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.