China's "Silk Road Ark" hospital ship left Zhanjiang port in south China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday on a medical mission to provide care to Chinese soldiers stationed on islands in the South China Sea.
The ship has 14 clinical departments including orthopedics, general surgery, dermatology and gastroenterology.
"After receiving the order, we took the initiative to meet the needs of front-line officers and soldiers, planned in advance, and made full preparations for supplies and procedures. All members of our medical team will treat officers and soldiers on the islands with superb technology and quality service, helping them to stay healthy," said Pu Yanhua, a medic with the Southern Theater Command First Naval Hospital.
The Silk Road Ark, China's second domestically designed and built ocean-going hospital ship in the 10,000 ton class, provides medical aid and transfer for those injured at sea, visits residents and soldiers on China's islands and carries out international humanitarian medical services, as well as conducting foreign military medical exchanges and cooperation.
"As a hospital ship, it is very maneuverable and can get to an affected area quickly to provide medical assistance services. It also has transfer capabilities through various means. When operating in areas with no ports, medics and medical supplies can be transferred ashore by helicopter and ambulance boat," said Luo Jixing, a sailor aboard the "Silk Road Ark".
"As a large ocean-going hospital ship, it will not only provide reliable medical security, but also be a strong spiritual pillar for the Chinese Navy and its sailors to travel further across the ocean," said Li Xiao, another sailor aboard the "Silk Road Ark".
China's "Silk Road Ark" hospital ship sails to islands in South China Sea to treat soldiers
Residents in Ukraine are feeling a mix of optimism and concern about the future after U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Monday, with some hoping the new president can fulfill his previous pledge of ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict while others remain skeptical.
Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol on Monday, officially beginning his second term in office and marking a return to the White House after four years.
In his inauguration speech, Trump said that "the golden Age of America begins right now" and pledged to build the strongest military the world has ever seen, while adding that he will be a peacemaker and unifier.
However, in the wake of the speech, many U.S. media commentators questioned why Trump appeared to deliberately refrain from mentioning Ukraine by name, given that he had previously boasted he would quickly bring an end to the conflict after taking office.
Residents in Kiev have been pondering what a new Trump administration could mean for their country as the Russia-Ukraine crisis approaches an unwanted third anniversary, with some hopeful the incoming administration can deliver a fresh impetus to bring about a resolution.
"If negotiations between Ukraine and Russia begin under the new President Trump, it could potentially be a positive development," said Anne, a Kiev resident.
However, there are also concerns about the direction U.S. foreign policy could take under Trump's leadership and particularly his much vaunted "America First" approach.
"I believe he will prioritize what he sees as best for America. As a result, Ukraine's challenges may be relegated to second place or lower, potentially prolonging the war," said Oksana, another Kiev resident.
During his inauguration speech, Trump gave what was seemingly a veiled reference to the Biden administration's policy of supporting Ukraine militarily, accusing the previous government of giving "unlimited funding" to the defense of foreign borders.
Trump has made repeated claims in the past that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which broke out in February 2022, would never have happened in the first place if he were the U.S. president at the time.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday expressed his country's willingness to engage with the new U.S. administration over the conflict. According to a statement from the Kremlin, Putin said during a meeting with members of Russia's Security Council that Moscow has never rejected dialogue and has always been open to cooperation with any U.S. administration.
Mix of hope, concern in Ukraine as Trump takes office