The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi has conveyed its gratitude to India for the action of Indian Navy and Coast Guard that foiled an attack by Somalian pirates on a Chinese merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea. The incident occurred yesterday 450 nautical miles off the Karwar Coast of Karnataka.The Chinese vessel – MV Fu Cheng registered in Panama, was on its way from Jeddah to Tuticorin port when it faced the pirates attack. The pirates were already on the deck of the ship when the Indian Navy swung into action sending its aircraft to warn the pirates. The warning had the desired effect.

A Coast Guard official said in New Delhi today that the vessal had Chinese crew members.

Navy and Coast Guard have prevented a number of attacks by Somalians in the past few months and apprehended over a 100 pirates, mostly Somalians, and handed them over to Mumbai police.The pirates are lodged in various jails.