South China Sea: China’s New Hospital Ship Sets Sail

China has sent its largest hospital ship, the Silk Road Ark, on its first mission to the South China Sea. The ship left a naval port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, heading towards the Paracel and Spratly Islands. This deployment comes amid rising tensions in the region, particularly between China and the Philippines. Both island groups are subject to multiple sovereignty claims, with the Paracels also claimed by Vietnam.

The Silk Road Ark, commissioned to the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army, is China’s second 10,000-tonne-class hospital ship. It joins the Peace Ark, which has been in service since 2008. Military expert Zhang Junshe noted that the two ships would bolster China's strategic shift towards a balance between offshore and blue-sea defense.

This mission will see the Silk Road Ark visit locations including Woody Island and Fiery Cross Reef, where China has previously established military bases. The new ship aims to provide medical services, support wartime casualties, aid soldiers and civilians, and engage in international humanitarian missions. It is capable of performing eight surgeries simultaneously and can accommodate over 300 inpatients.

The deployment of the Silk Road Ark underscores China’s efforts to enhance its presence in the strategically crucial South China Sea, which has one of the world's busiest shipping routes.