A Chinese navy frigate, which had been on an escort mission in the Aden Gulf, passed through Egypt's Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday.

The frigate, the Xuzhou, is expected to reach waters close to Libya on Wednesday to provide support and protection for the ships evacuating Chinese nationals from Libya.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, more than 29,000 Chinese had been evacuated from riot-torn Libya as of Monday morning.