Chinese fishing vessel and crew freed after seizure off Puntland State following China–Somalia coordination
MOGADISHU — A Chinese fishing vessel seized by armed men off the coast of Puntland State was released along with all crew members after coordinated efforts by China, Somalia’s federal government and Puntland State authorities, officials said Tuesday.
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The vessel was freed on March 2 in what the Chinese Embassy in Mogadishu described as a peaceful resolution reached through close consultations between Somalia’s federal leadership and the Puntland State presidency.
“The Chinese side strongly condemns this blatantly vicious action which threatened the safety of the crew and international navigation security,” the embassy said in a statement. It added that Beijing would continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard the lawful rights of Chinese citizens and enterprises overseas and work with relevant parties to ensure maritime security.
Details surrounding the seizure — including the identity of the armed group and the duration of the standoff — were not immediately disclosed. It was also unclear whether a ransom was paid. In previous incidents off Somalia’s coast, pirate groups have demanded millions of dollars for the release of vessels and crews.
Somalia’s federal government said the Chinese fishing vessels operating in Somali waters had authorization from federal and relevant state authorities and that their activities complied with national laws and regulations. It emphasized that it takes China’s security concerns seriously and remains committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fisheries sector, which it described as mutually beneficial.
Puntland State authorities did not provide further operational details about the release, and neither Somali nor Chinese officials publicly identified the armed group involved. No injuries or damage to the vessel were immediately reported by the parties.
Maritime security off Somalia’s coast has been a global concern for more than a decade. Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean peaked in the late 2000s and early 2010s, threatening one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. Attacks declined sharply following sustained international naval patrols, the use of vessel protection teams and improved best-management practices by the shipping and fishing industries. Even so, sporadic incidents — including boardings, attempted hijackings and armed robberies — continue to test regional security and law enforcement capacity.
Chinese and Somali officials framed the latest case as a reminder of the need for coordinated maritime governance. Beijing signaled it would keep pressing for joint responses to threats at sea, while Mogadishu underlined that licensed foreign fishing remains part of its economic strategy as it works with regional authorities to monitor waters and deter illegal activity.
Neither government offered a timeline for any additional measures or investigations stemming from the incident. The Chinese Embassy said it would “work with relevant parties to ensure maritime security,” while Somali authorities reiterated their pledge to uphold the rule of law across the country’s territorial waters.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
