Latest news with #CNSSilkRoadArk
Miami Herald
18-06-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Photos Show Where US and China Have Sent Hospital Ships
Both China and the United States, rivals in the contest for naval dominance in the Pacific, have recently deployed naval hospital ships. USNS Comfort has been conducting a medical mission in Latin America since May 30, according to the U.S. Navy. Meanwhile, CNS Silk Road Ark departed for islands and reefs in the contested South China Sea on Monday, according to the Chinese military. China's navy is larger than its U.S. counterpart by hull count. While most of their vessels are designed for combat, both naval forces operate hospital ships that function as floating mobile medical facilities-supporting military missions, disaster relief and humanitarian operations. The Chinese and American hospital ship deployments come after China commissioned its third oceangoing hospital ship, CNS Auspicious Ark, in May-a major milestone that now sees all three of China's theater command fleets equipped with their own hospital ships. The Comfort departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, for a mission known as Continuing Promise 2025, aimed at providing patient care and technical expertise in community clinics across Grenada, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. The hospital ship arrived in St. George's, the capital of the Caribbean island of Grenada, on June 9, according to the U.S. Navy. In addition to providing medical care, American service members will renovate buildings and repair infrastructure damaged by natural disasters. The Comfort is one of two Mercy-class hospital ships operated by the U.S. Navy, alongside USNS Mercy. The 63,000-ton ship-delivered to the Navy in 1987-is equipped with 1,000 patient beds, 11 general-purpose operating rooms and one interventional radiology suite. Meanwhile, the Silk Road Ark departed the coastal city of Sanya-on China's southern Hainan Island-for its second "medical outreach voyage" since entering service in 2024. "The mission focuses on meeting the medical needs of service members on islands," the Chinese military said in a press release. China controls a number of maritime features in the South China Sea, where its sovereignty claims overlap with those of several other countries. The 10,000-ton Silk Road Ark is smaller than the Comfort, with a capacity of 300 patient beds. The vessel-China's second 10,000-ton oceangoing hospital ship-is capable of hosting eight surgical operations simultaneously, according to China Daily. The U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command said in a press release on June 9:"[Continuing Promise 2025] marks the 16th mission to the region since 2007 and the eighth aboard [USNS] Comfort. The mission will foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and encourage the establishment of new partnerships among countries, non-federal entities, and international organizations." The Chinese military said in a press release on Tuesday: "[CNS Silk Road Ark's] major tasks include medical rescue and evacuation of the wounded at sea, international humanitarian medical service, emergency medical rescue in major disasters, and foreign military medical exchanges and cooperation." It remains to be seen whether China will expand its fleet of hospital ships as part of its naval modernization efforts, thereby increasing operational flexibility for deployments across different regions. Related Articles Russia Warns US Over Iran AttackIndian Prime Minister Contradicts TrumpTrump Says Iran Should Have Negotiated Before Conflict Escalated: Live UpdatesHamas Sends Warning to U.S. Over Iran Attack 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Chinese Navy Announces Major Warfighting Milestone
The Chinese navy, currently the largest in the world by hull count, has recently reached a major milestone by equipping each of three fleets with an oceangoing hospital ship, which experts claim can be deployed simultaneously to support different combat fronts. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment by email. China has more than 370 naval vessels, organized into fleets assigned to the Northern Theater Command, which is based in the Yellow Sea, the Eastern Theater Command, which is based in the East China Sea, and the Southern Theater Command that faces the South China Sea. China has ongoing territorial disputes in the East and South China seas with Japan and the Philippines, respectively. Meanwhile, the Eastern Theater Command is responsible for military operations concerning Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by Beijing. While the Chinese military has commissioned three hospital ships, the United States currently operates two, serving as what the Navy calls "afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facilities" to support military, disaster relief, and humanitarian missions worldwide. In a video released on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, the Chinese military's media wing reported that the third indigenously built 10,000-ton-class oceangoing hospital ship, CNS Auspicious Ark, recently held a medical rescue exercise in the Yellow Sea. The newly unveiled hospital ship has been assigned to the Northern Theater Command, the Chinese navy confirmed on Friday, adding that it is capable of providing medical services to deployed naval task groups and troops stationed on remote islands and reefs. In addition to the Auspicious Ark, its two sister ships, CNS Peace Ark and CNS Silk Road Ark, are assigned to the Eastern and Southern Theater Commands, respectively. Each ship is equipped with 300 patient beds, the state-run China Daily reported. According to the state-run Global Times, the new ship is equipped with "cutting-edge medical and health support facilities," including eight operating rooms. It can provide "early-stage treatment and specialized care" during wartime to reduce combat losses. Chinese military expert Cao Weidong told the China Central Television that each of the three theater command fleets now has its own hospital ship for support, which can be redeployed to other theaters if the intensity of war or military operations increases. With the introduction of the third floating hospital, the Chinese navy is able to provide health care to troops taking part in escort missions in the Gulf of Aden, as well as those stationed on islands and reefs that scattered across the South China Sea, Cao explained. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times: "[The three Chinese hospital ships] represent a key indicator of the [Chinese] navy's modernized medical support capabilities. Their commissioning significantly elevates the overall standard of naval healthcare services." The China Central Television reported: "The Auspicious Ark not only has outstanding advantages in field surgery, capable of handling special injuries such as blast wounds and burns, but it is also able to respond to trauma and infection cases caused by sudden natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, demonstrating its advantages in humanitarian rescue operations." It remains to be seen whether China will deploy one of its oceangoing hospital ships for an overseas humanitarian medical mission under Mission Harmony this year. The most recent deployment was carried out by the Peace Ark from last June to January. Related Articles Stock Market Sinks After Trump Threatens Tariffs on Apple, EUCrowd's Response to Howard Lutnick's Price Rise Question Goes ViralHow China Is Fighting Back in Its Manufacturing War With the USTrump Nuclear Power Update as New Order May Bring Back Cold War-Era Act 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Chinese Navy Announces Major Warfighting Milestone
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chinese navy, currently the largest in the world by hull count, has recently reached a major milestone by equipping each of three fleets with an oceangoing hospital ship, which experts claim can be deployed simultaneously to support different combat fronts. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment by email. Why It Matters China has more than 370 naval vessels, organized into fleets assigned to the Northern Theater Command, which is based in the Yellow Sea, the Eastern Theater Command, which is based in the East China Sea, and the Southern Theater Command that faces the South China Sea. China has ongoing territorial disputes in the East and South China seas with Japan and the Philippines, respectively. Meanwhile, the Eastern Theater Command is responsible for military operations concerning Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by Beijing. While the Chinese military has commissioned three hospital ships, the United States currently operates two, serving as what the Navy calls "afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facilities" to support military, disaster relief, and humanitarian missions worldwide. What To Know In a video released on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, the Chinese military's media wing reported that the third indigenously built 10,000-ton-class oceangoing hospital ship, CNS Auspicious Ark, recently held a medical rescue exercise in the Yellow Sea. The newly unveiled hospital ship has been assigned to the Northern Theater Command, the Chinese navy confirmed on Friday, adding that it is capable of providing medical services to deployed naval task groups and troops stationed on remote islands and reefs. In addition to the Auspicious Ark, its two sister ships, CNS Peace Ark and CNS Silk Road Ark, are assigned to the Eastern and Southern Theater Commands, respectively. Each ship is equipped with 300 patient beds, the state-run China Daily reported. According to the state-run Global Times, the new ship is equipped with "cutting-edge medical and health support facilities," including eight operating rooms. It can provide "early-stage treatment and specialized care" during wartime to reduce combat losses. Chinese military expert Cao Weidong told the China Central Television that each of the three theater command fleets now has its own hospital ship for support, which can be redeployed to other theaters if the intensity of war or military operations increases. With the introduction of the third floating hospital, the Chinese navy is able to provide health care to troops taking part in escort missions in the Gulf of Aden, as well as those stationed on islands and reefs that scattered across the South China Sea, Cao explained. People visit the Chinese navy hospital ship CNS Peace Ark in Tianjin, China, on April 23. People visit the Chinese navy hospital ship CNS Peace Ark in Tianjin, China, on April 23. Tong Yu/China News Service/VCG via AP What People Are Saying Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times: "[The three Chinese hospital ships] represent a key indicator of the [Chinese] navy's modernized medical support capabilities. Their commissioning significantly elevates the overall standard of naval healthcare services." The China Central Television reported: "The Auspicious Ark not only has outstanding advantages in field surgery, capable of handling special injuries such as blast wounds and burns, but it is also able to respond to trauma and infection cases caused by sudden natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, demonstrating its advantages in humanitarian rescue operations." What Happens Next? It remains to be seen whether China will deploy one of its oceangoing hospital ships for an overseas humanitarian medical mission under Mission Harmony this year. The most recent deployment was carried out by the Peace Ark from last June to January.
