China deploys 6 warships, increasing naval presence in the Middle East. (Source: Reuters)

According to Chinese media, the country has deployed up to six warships to operate in the Middle East over the past week.

The Chinese Defense Ministry website said the 44th naval escort task force has been engaged in routine operations in the region since May and last week spent several days visiting Oman, including joint exercises with the country's navy.

The force will leave Oman's capital Muscat on October 21 and move to an unspecified location.

Meanwhile, Xinhua reported that during the visit to Oman, Chinese military commanders met with Omani military officials and visited military facilities.

The task force, from the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, includes the Zibo, a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, the Jingzhou destroyer and the integrated supply ship Qiandaohu.

The ships have been on a convoy escort mission since arriving in the Gulf of Aden, north of Somalia, six months ago and handed over their duties to the 45th Escort Task Force earlier this month.

The new group of ships, from the PLA Northern Theater Command, includes another Type 052D destroyer, the Urumqi; the destroyer Linyi and the supply ship Dongpinghu.

The naval presence means six Chinese ships are operating in Middle Eastern waters as tensions rise in the region.

Meanwhile, after Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, the US dispatched the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean.