Chinese Navy Strength: Hospital ship Peace Ark on a mission of friendship

World
Europe

The Chinese PLA naval hospital ship Peace Ark has been widely known for its involvement in international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The ship, serving the East Sea Fleet is responsible for treating and evacuating casualties during wartime. And during peacetime, it offers medical services to civilians both in China and abroad. CGTN's Meng Qingsheng takes us on to the Peace Ark.

A medical platform reaching out to those in need, the Chinese navy's hospital ship, Peace Ark, provides free medical service around the world. Li Xuezhou is a trained radiologist from a military medical school. He's been working on the ship for 10 years since it was commissioned in 2008.

LI XUEZHOU MILITARY MEDICAL WORKER "I have visited many places onboard this ship. It not only helps expand my horizons, but it provides a chance to help the Chinese army reach out to people around the world. It requires a higher standard of medical skills to meet with various demands from the patients."

China has sent the Peace Ark on several humanitarian missions. The ship has traveled to regions like Africa and the Caribbean, providing disaster relief.

MENG QINGSHENG SANYA, HAINAN "Facilities on the Peace Ark hospital ship are as good as those in a top class hospital. It has five medical divisions, eight operating rooms and 300 beds. It is able to treat more than a thousand patients at the same time."

Captain Guo Baofeng showed us inside the bridge. He says the ship has traveled for 15-thousand hours and contributed to global friendship.

GUO BAOFENG, CAPTAIN PEACE ARK HOSPITAL SHIP "The Peace Ark has visited 37 countries and regions since it was launched, covering three oceans and six continents. It gives us a sense of fulfilment to heal the wounded and rescue the dying. As a responsible team, we went to the Philippines in 2013 to save those affected by the typhoon."

The medical platform has five main areas including casualty transfer, triage and evacuation.

MENG QINGSHENG SANYA, HAINAN "The Peace Ark has a total area of four thousand square meters. It's China's first domestically developed 10-thousand-ton level hospital ship. Since it was launched in 2008, this ship has reached more than 180-thousand patients across the world. It's called the "life boat" by the Chinese navy."

The ship has a variety of capabilities to ensure its crew has everything it needs to perform its duties. For Li Xuezhou and his crewmates, they are committed to a career helping others.

LI XUEZHOU MILITARY MEDICAL WORKER "I hope to continue my service on the Peace Ark, and within my reach, visit as many countries and regions as possible to help those in need, and relieve their pains."

Over the past years, Peace Ark has conducted several joint military drills. Its captain says military diplomacy has helped sharpen its overseas medical capability. Meng Qingsheng, CGTN, Sanya in Hainan Province.