Israel-Hamas war: China deploys warships to region amid fears of wider conflict

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed six warships in the region amid escalating tensions. According to the South China Morning Post, these warships, including the Zibo, a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, the frigate Jingzhou, and the integrated supply ship Qiandaohu, were part of the PLA's 44th naval escort task force.
On October 14, these warships left the shores of Muscat for an undisclosed destination, as reported by Chinese state media.
This naval presence signifies the operation of six Chinese vessels in Middle Eastern waters during the heightened tensions in the region.
United States has deployed the USS Gerald R Ford, its most advanced aircraft carrier, and a battle group to the West Asia region in response to the situation. Additionally, several countries, including Britain, Germany, and France, have sent military or civilian planes to evacuate their nationals from Israel.


While China has not yet announced an evacuation plan, the Chinese foreign ministry advised Chinese citizens to leave the area as soon as possible using commercial flights.

In previous situations, China has utilized escort warships similar to those currently in the region for evacuations. For instance, in May, China sent a supply ship and a Type 052D destroyer to evacuate over 1,000 Chinese, Brazilians, and Pakistanis from areas affected by armed conflicts.
In 2015, Chinese warships also played a role in evacuating 225 foreigners and nearly 600 Chinese nationals from Yemen.
On October 19, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed Beijing's longstanding position in favor of establishing a sovereign state of Palestine, as reported by state media. He emphasized that this approach represents "the fundamental way" to resolve the ongoing conflict in the region.
“The top priority now is a ceasefire as soon as possible, to avoid the conflict from expanding or even spiraling out of control and causing a serious humanitarian crisis," Jinping said.