China has dispatched its renowned “Peace Ark” hospital ship on a voyage through the South Pacific.
The strategic move comes amid escalating competition with the United States and its allies for regional power and influence.
Traversing the azure waters, the 14,300-metric-tonne vessel will make port calls at Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and East Timor, extending medical assistance to both Chinese citizens and residents of these nations.
The mission, as stated by Navy spokesperson Liu Wensheng, aims to “present our image as a responsible big country” and showcase China’s dedication to fostering goodwill and collaboration.
The “Peace Ark,” resplendent in its white hull adorned with prominent red crosses, boasts a formidable medical team of over 100 professionals proficient in 16 clinical and auxiliary departments.
With the capacity to treat up to 1,000 patients simultaneously, the ship is equipped with state-of-the-art operating rooms, nursing stations, and even a blood bank, as reported by China Daily.
China’s engagement with Pacific nations has steadily deepened in recent years, forging closer ties with countries that were once aligned with Taiwan, a development that has raised concerns among the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as within the targeted nations themselves.
Last year, China inked a security pact with the Solomon Islands and aspires to establish similar alliances with other Pacific nations.
The Chinese foreign minister has highlighted the burgeoning relations with the Solomon Islands as a potential model for future partnerships.
In response to China’s overtures, the United States has intensified its engagement in the region.
President Joe Biden convened an unprecedented summit with Pacific leaders at the White House, pledging a tripling of funding for the region.
Moreover, the US reopened its embassy in the Solomon Islands after a 30-year hiatus and unveiled plans to establish embassies in Tonga and Vanuatu.
This voyage is not the first for the “Peace Ark,” which serves as the flagship hospital ship of the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
It has previously navigated Pacific waters, providing critical medical support during times of crisis, such as the aftermath of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Philippines in 2013.
Since its commissioning in 2008, the “Peace Ark” has attended to the healthcare needs of approximately 250,000 individuals from 43 countries.
