China: Chinese navy's hospital ship deploys to South China Sea to provide medical services for troops.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" departed a military port in Zhanjiang City of south China's Guangdong Province on Sunday morning on a mission to provide medical services for naval personnel stationed in the South China Sea. It marks the third time for the Silk Road Ark to carry out a mission to provide medical services for Chinese naval personnel stationed in the country's territorial waters, since the vessel entered service in 2024. This mission will focus on common health issues among island-based troops, including neck, shoulder, lower back, and leg pain, skin diseases, and chronic conditions. A combination of shipboard consultations, island visits, and doorstep medical services will be offered. These include free check-ups, physical examinations, traditional Chinese medicine therapy, surgical procedures, and health education for stationed soldiers and their families. The mission team is primarily made up of 70 medical staff from military hospitals and the Naval Medical University. A naval cultural service team under the PLA Southern Theater Command has also joined the voyage. The Silk Road Ark is China's second domestically designed and constructed 10,000-tonne-class standard ocean-going hospital ship. It just concluded a 234-day "Mission Harmony-2025" on April 26. Shotlist: Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, south China - May 31, 2026: 1. Aerial shot of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark"; 2. "Silk Road Ark" hospital ship, sign of Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command (STC)'s naval medical service mission; 3. Various of Chinese naval soldiers boarding ship; 4. Aerial shots of staff members on "Silk Road Ark" hospital ship; 5. Various of medical crew, soldier working, talking; 6. Various of surgery room; interior of hospital ship, equipment; 7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Chuanyong, medical service team, "Silk Road Ark" hospital ship (ending with shots 8-9): "During the voyage, we will conduct maritime casualty evacuation drills with experience-sharing sessions among medical personnel, and with medical equipment maintenance and repair, etc. Our goal is to bridge the 'last mile' of medical services along China's coastal frontiers and effectively enhance our frontline medical support capabilities."; 8. Various of sign of PLA Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark"; 9. Aerial shot of "Silk Road Ark" hospital ship; FILE: Date and Location Unknown 10. Various of performance in progress; audience; 11. Aerial shots of "Silk Road Ark" hospital ship, port scene; 12. Various of doctors performing surgery, treating patient; 13. Aerial shot of "Silk Road Ark" hospital ship sailing. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]