China has strongly condemned the hijacking of a Chinese fishing vessel in Somalia, putting the crew in danger and threatening international maritime security.
In a March 3 statement, the Chinese Embassy in Somalia confirmed that its vessel and all crew members were safely rescued on March 2 following joint efforts by several parties.
“Recently, a Chinese fishing vessel was hijacked by a group of armed offenders in the waters off the coast of Puntland, Somalia. With the unremitting efforts of all parties concerned, the vessel and its crew were safely rescued on 2nd March,” read the statement by the Chinese Embassy in Somalia.
Rescue Achieved Through China and Somalia Efforts
The embassy said the ship was seized by armed attackers off the Puntland coast. Throughout the rescue operation, China stayed in close contact with Somalia’s federal government and the Puntland authorities.
According to officials, this cooperation played a major role in ensuring the crew’s safety. China condemned the attack, saying it was a serious violation that threatened both the crew and international navigation.
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The embassy added that China will continue taking all necessary steps to protect its citizens and overseas companies while working with other partners to improve maritime security.
“The Chinese side strongly condemns this blatantly vicious action, which threatened the safety of the crew and international navigation security, and will continue to take all necessary means to resolutely safeguard the lawful rights of Chinese citizens and enterprises overseas, as well as work with relevant parties to ensure the international navigation security,” read the statement in part.
Vessel Operated Legally With Somali Authorization
The embassy also stressed that the vessel had full permission to operate in Somali waters, granted by Somalia’s federal government and state authorities. Somalia confirmed this, noting that the fishing operations followed all local laws.
At the same time, China expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation, especially in the fisheries sector, and highlighted the strong friendship between the two countries.
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“China and Somalia have a profound traditional friendship. Any attempts to undermine or disrupt China-Somalia cooperation are bound to go in vain,” the embassy added.
Incident Resolved Amid Deepening China–Somalia Partnership
The hijacking happened at a time when China and Somalia continue to grow their strategic cooperation.
Their partnership was strengthened at the FOCAC summit in September 2024 and reinforced through high-level meetings in early 2026. Both countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, security, green energy, digital development, and long-term planning as they prepare to mark 65 years of diplomatic relations in 2025.
The embassy said China will keep working with Somalia to expand cooperation across various fields and further strengthen their long-standing relationship.
It noted that the incident reflects ongoing maritime challenges in the region while reaffirming that authorized foreign fishing operations remain legal and beneficial.
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