Advertisement
South China Sea: PLA deploys new hospital ship to islands and reefs in contested waters
- Silk Road Ark, China’s biggest hospital ship, is on maiden voyage, with hopes it will ‘better serve operational demand and battle readiness’
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
14
The Chinese military has deployed the nation’s biggest hospital ship to the South China Sea for its maiden mission.
Advertisement
The Silk Road Ark made its public debut last week as it set sail from a naval port in Zhanjiang in Guangdong province in southern China, heading for the islands and reefs in the Paracel Islands, known in China as the Xisha Islands, and the Spratly Islands (Nansha in Chinese), to provide medical services, according to state media.
The voyage comes at a time of increasing tension in the South China Sea, particularly between China and the Philippines. The Paracels are claimed by mainland China and Vietnam. The Spratly Islands are also subject to multiple claims, with Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia among claimants.
01:39
China says Fujian carrier is world’s largest conventionally powered warship
China says Fujian carrier is world’s largest conventionally powered warship
The new floating hospital, which was commissioned to the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army, is the country’s second 10,000-tonne-class large hospital ship in 15 years after the Peace Ark entered service in the Eastern Theatre Command in 2008.
“The Silk Road Ark has the same hull structure and area with the Peace Ark, but it has a larger full-load displacement and stronger endurance than the Peace Ark,” state broadcaster CCTV said, without elaborating.
Advertisement