Chinese Hospital Ship “Peace Ark” Sets Sail For Africa -- Defense Tech
China’s 10,000 ton hospital ship “Peace Ark” left Zhoushan Port today en route to the Gulf of Aden on its first overseas medical mission, according to a Chinese government announcement. It says the ship carries 428 “soldiers, officers and medical workers.” During its 87-day mission the ship’s medical staff will provide treatment to people in Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, the Seychelles and Bangladesh.
The Chinese are adept (and becoming more so) at the use of soft power in all its forms, not just economic, as this deployment makes clear. Taking a page from the U.S. Navy playbook, the hospital ship will become a major tool in China’s soft power exploits.
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Update: Chinese Navy Hospital Ship Sets Sail on First Overseas Mission -- CRIEnglish
My Comment: Greg Grant's comments at Defense Tech on why this hospital ship is going to Africa is 'dead on the money'. Read it all.