China has offered to relieve the European Union's naval escorts of UN food shipments to Somalia - an expansion of the People's Liberation Army Navy's historic Indian Ocean deployment that is likely to see it face greater risks.
In an unprecedented act, PLA Navy officers offered to ease the EU's escort burden during a monthly meeting in Bahrain this week of international navies involved in fighting pirates plaguing vital Asia-Europe shipping lanes off the Horn of Africa.
The EU had not formally requested assistance but had made clear internationally that its naval force was struggling to cope with increasing escort demands and a worsening piracy crisis.
Somali pirates now deploy mother ships to range far out into the Indian Ocean. Such raids are expected to become more frequent during monsoonal calms in April and May.
The World Food Programme, meanwhile, has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis across the failed state, with more than 3.6 million people - half its population - needing outside help.
'China has been very forward leaning on this,' said one envoy involved in the meetings. 'They made the offer out of the blue without being asked, but it is exactly what is needed - it is a very welcome offer given the strain now being felt by EU naval forces.'