Chinese merchant ships, including 1 from Hong Kong, were being led by the destroyer "Wuhan", with the destroyer "Haikou" following on the right, said a China Daily reporter at the scene.

Soldiers of Chinese navy special force carry out an anti pirate drill on the deck of DDG-171 Haikou destroyer in Sanya, capital of South China\s Hainan Province, on Dec. 25, 2008.