A Chinese ship arrived to escort ships picking up chemical weapons materials from Syria on Tuesday , China 's state-run Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday . The frigate Yancheng is working closely with other ships from Russia and Europe , the agency reported , citing a Beijing Foreign Ministry statement . The international effort to dismantle Syria 's chemical weapons program reached a milestone Tuesday when a Danish commercial ship picked up the first batch of important chemical materials , the group overseeing the work said . The `` priority chemical materials '' loaded at the Syrian port of Latakia , and the ship -- escorted by Danish and Norwegian warships -- left for international waters , the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations said Tuesday . The ship will remain at sea until more chemical materials are made available at the Latakia port for pickup . The chemicals eventually will be taken to locations outside Syria for destruction , the group said . Tuesday 's move comes a week after a deadline for the first chemical materials to leave Syria . The mission blamed the delay on `` the continuing volatility in overall security conditions '' and on `` logistical challenges coupled with inclement weather . '' Syria 's chemical weapons are targeted for removal and elimination by the end of June . Syria agreed to have its program dismantled under international pressure last year over allegations the Syrian government used sarin nerve gas in an August 21 attack on a Damascus suburb . U.S. officials said at least 1,400 people died in the attack . Syria denied responsibility , blaming rebel forces . Syria chemical weapons teams show how science can boost peace .
The Chinese ship was a Danish ship that took away the first load Tuesday . The EU and the U.N. are monitoring Syria 's chemical weapons program . They plan to be finished by the end of 2015 . Syria agreed to the measure after being blamed for chemical attack that killed hundreds .