They have a patrol fleet there, just like other Navies, to ensure freedom of operations. Speculation is that these vessels are meant to takeover the existing patrol fleets duties, but because of the absence of American vessels, due to Israel, the new Chinese vessels will linger longer, or more permanently.
To do what exactly?
China is buying a ton of oil from Iran. It’s military escorts the oil tankers.
They have a patrol fleet there, just like other Navies, to ensure freedom of operations. Speculation is that these vessels are meant to takeover the existing patrol fleets duties, but because of the absence of American vessels, due to Israel, the new Chinese vessels will linger longer, or more permanently.