Taipei- Taiwan is mulling sending warships to protect Taiwanese ships from Somali pirates, a politically sensitive move that needs China's approval, the Central News Agency (CNA) said Thursday.

Chao Chien-min, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, told a news conference that "related government agencies are evaluating if Taiwan should send warships to the Gulf of Aden to carry out patrol work," according to CNA.

"As when to send the warships, it depends on the outcome of the evaluation," CNA quoted him as saying.

Defence Ministry Spokeswoman Chih Yu-lan said that the Defence Ministry would comply with government policy.

"When we receive the order, we will be doing the planning for it," CNA quoted her as saying.

Taiwan has two of the world's leading container shipping lines - the Evergreen Marine and Yang Ming Marine - which have about 300 vessels - half registered in foreign countries.

In recent year, several Taiwan fishing trawlers have been hijacked by Somali pirates, but were released after the ship owners paid a ransom. No Taiwanese container ships have been hijacked near Somalia.

Currently several countries, including the United States, the European Union and China, have sent more than a dozen warships to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, to protect their own and international vessels.

China sent two destroyers and one supply ship to the area on December 25, and the Chinese fleet began fighting piracy off Somalia this week.

China said Wednesday that Taipei can ask Beijing to have Chinese warships escort Taiwan vessels passing through the Gulf of Aden, but Taipei has not made any such request yet.

At the news conference Thursday, a reporter asked Chao if the Taiwan government encouraged Taiwan ships to seek help from the Chinese fleet when they are attacked by pirates.

Chao said Taiwan had anti-terrorism cooperation pacts with the US and Europe. If Taiwan ships faced danger in the Gulf of Aden, they could seek help from US and European warships.

Taiwan's sending warships to join the anti-piracy effort in the Gulf of Aden could pose problems to China. China sees Taiwan as its breakaway province and has barred Taiwan from joining international activities and international organizations.

Taiwan is recognized by only 23 - mostly small - nations, and Taiwan warships can only patrol Taiwan waters and go on friendly visits to Taiwan's diplomatic allies - which do not include Somalia. (dpa)