The latest addition to China’s budding navy is a hospital ship. As reported by Information Dissemination, China’s Type 920 Hospital Ship has completed sea trials and entered service. Global Security offers a great analysis of the ship’s role in China’s grand strategy:
Some have suggested that the new Type 920 hospital ship will be making a humanitarian tour in the South Pacific to reinforce other soft power gains made in that region over the last few years. … China’s launch of its first large naval hospital ship in August 2007 seemed to some to demonstrate an intention to project increased “soft power” in the maritime realm. There is no inherent reason why China’s already significant domestic maritime disaster relief capabilities could not be mobilized in the future to provide humanitarian assistance overseas. The Chinese government recognizes the value of humanitarian assistance, medical diplomacy and national responses to international natural disasters. Providing medical assistance to needy countries, particularly in response to natural disasters, improves international image through people-to-people diplomacy as well as effective communications campaigns.
Christopher Albon is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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They sure missed an opportunity after the Boxing Day tsunami. Right in their back yard, but PLA/PLAN was nowhere to be found.
I agree TEJ. At the time I was surprised China did not play a more active role. I am not a China-expert, but I imagine the combination of the lack of soft power appreciation and of power projection capabilities is a large part of the reason.
Interesting, especially if you consider the areas in which ethnic Chinese live in diaspora – Africa to San Francisco. The idea of a humanitarian visit to Indo, or somewhere similar, is interesting.
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