China has dispatched six warships to the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, as reported by the media. The 44th naval escort task force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was conducting routine operations in the region and spent several days in Oman last week.
After participating in an exercise with the Omani navy, the Chinese warships departed from Muscat for an undisclosed location on Saturday. This task force comprises the Zibo, a guided missile destroyer, the frigate Jingzhou, and the supply ship Qiandaohu, all of which are set to be stationed in the Middle East, coinciding with Israel's preparations for a potential ground invasion of Gaza.
For the past six months, the PLA task force has been engaged in escort missions for shipping in the Gulf of Aden north of Somalia. Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed his views on the Israel-Hamas conflict, stating that a two-state solution for an independent Palestine is the "fundamental way out." He emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire to prevent the conflict from escalating further and causing a humanitarian crisis.
It's worth noting that China's deployment follows the recent dispatch of a substantial arsenal by the United States to the Middle East.