Beijing, April 10

China today claimed full credit for rescuing a cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates in the strategic Gulf of Aden, ignoring Indian Navy’s role in the operation.While a Chinese navy statement last night omitted reference to the Indian Navy in providing helicopter cover to the Chinese vessel whose special forces boarded the Tuvaluan ship under hijack, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the operation demonstrated “effectiveness of the Chinese naval force in fighting pirates”.On the absence of any mention of the Indian Navy’s role in the operation, Hua said China’s Ministry of Defence should be approached for details.“According to what we have learnt from the military on April 8 at 5 pm, the 25th convoy of Chinese navy received reports from the UKMTO about the hijack of Tuvalaun ship OS35,” she said. — PTIIndian Navy posts pic Asked about the Chinese navy’s statement, an Indian Navy spokesperson  referred to his tweet, “Indian Navy Chetak Helicopter on top of PLA Navy boats carrying boarding party to MV OS35 in coordinated anti-piracy ops @SpokespersonMoD”He also posted a picture with the tweet which showed an Indian helicopter flying over a Chinese navy vessel