"China is a new nation who's expressed real interest and an ambition to take on a wider role in counter-piracy and we very much welcome their involvement," EUNAVFOR operation commander Rear Admiral Peter Hudson told reporters.

Chinese state media reported last week that Beijing was in discussions to lead anti-piracy patrols in the waters off Somalia, where up to 35,000 ships transit each year.

China has been active in anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden, sending four flotillas to the area since late 2008.

Previously the Asian nation's navy had focused on the defence of its coastal waters, combined with the occasional friendly port call. Only in 2002 did it circumnavigate the globe for the first time.

In December, a top Chinese naval official raised the idea that China could build bases elsewhere, and proposed setting up a permanent facility to support ships on anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden.

The proposal came after a Chinese cargo ship and its crew of 25 were rescued from Somali pirates, following the payment of a 3.5-million-dollar ransom to their kidnappers.

Unofficial figures show that 2009 was the most prolific year yet for Somali pirates, with more than 200 attacks -- including 68 successful hijackings -- and a total of ransoms believed to exceed 50 million dollars.

On January 18, Somali pirates freed the Greek supertanker Maran Centaurus after a plane dropped a ransom of seven million dollars in cash on deck.

Hudson spoke out against the practice, saying it would only draw unemployed Somalis into piracy.

"It is quite difficult when ransom payments of that sort of order are paid," he said, during a visit to the European Union's headquarters in Brussels.

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