China deployed a fleet of warships to the Gulf of Aden on Friday as part of global efforts to combat piracy in the troubled waters off the Somali coast.

The naval contingent set sail from southern Hainan Friday afternoon and included a supply ship and two destroyers equipped with guided missiles, special forces and two helicopters.

"They won't rule out a direct conflict with pirates," read the headline of one Chinese newspaper on Friday, flanked by a photo of a special forces member posing with his finger on the trigger of an assault rifle armed with a grenade launcher.

China announced it was joining the anti-piracy mission on Tuesday after the UN Security Council said it would allow international forces to conduct land and air attacks on pirate bases. The EU has already deployed its own fleet to the area following the inauguration of its anti-piracy task mission earlier this month.

About a dozen other warships from the United States, Germany, India, Russia and Malaysia are also patrolling the region. Four Canadian ships — HMCS Iroquois, Calgary, Ville de Québec and Protecteur — have recently helped cargo ships and escorted vessels delivering humanitarian supplies.

China's deployment indicates a continued evolution in its navy's role from guarding the country's domestic coastline to patrolling international waters further afar. As China has played a growing role in the global economy, it has also expanded its navy with new destroyers, submarines and missiles.

China's military has not said how long the mission would last, but the state-run China Daily newspaper recently reported the ships would be gone for about three months.

About 20 per cent of the 1,265 Chinese ships passing through the Somali area have come under attack this year, according to the paper.

About 50 cargo ships move through the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, each day. Increasing attacks by pirates, however, have forced many shipping companies to reroute their vessels in an effort to avoid hijackings.

At least 95 ships have been attacked this year by pirates in the gulf, while 39 have been hijacked.

With files from the Associated Press