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
The U.S. tariff is set to have a negative impact on cross-border trade between Mexico and the United States, driving up logistics costs and posing broader economic risks, said an industry expert and transport workers.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs," imposing a 10-percent "minimum baseline tariff" and higher rates on certain trading partners.
For Canada and Mexico, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) compliant goods will continue to see a 0 percent tariff, non-USMCA compliant goods will see a 25 percent tariff, and non-USMCA compliant energy and potash will see a 10 percent tariff, according to the White House.
A document released earlier by the White House stated that Trump had signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports of automobiles and certain auto parts, citing "a critical threat to U.S. national security." The measure took effect on Wednesday, with tariff collection beginning on Thursday.
According to official statistics from the Mexican government, from November 2023 to the end of 2024, goods worth a total of 350 million U.S. dollars were exported by land from Mexico's northern border to the U.S., including about 77 million U.S. dollars worth of goods transported northward from Ciudad Juarez via road and rail to the North American market, primarily consisting of fully assembled automobiles and auto parts.
Since February, the U.S. has repeatedly shifted its stance on tariff measures, leaving many enterprises uncertain and fueling anxiety among drivers traveling between the two countries.
"I have been in this business for eight years. Recently, many companies have suspended deliveries, and many people are waiting to see if prices will rise," said a truck driver.
"I feel uncertain about the future, and imposing tariffs is actually harmful to both the U.S. and our country," said another truck driver.
Manuel Sotelo, Vice President of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (CANACAR) in Northern Mexico, stated that U.S. tariffs on imported cars would have a notable impact on Mexico's vehicle and spare parts transportation, leading to a slight increase in logistics costs for enterprises. However, the uncertainty brought by tariff policies would pose a more significant threat to the economies of both Mexico and the U.S.
"I believe logistics costs will likely rise by about 10 to 15 percent. Mexico is the largest trading partner of the U.S., and also the country that purchases the most goods from the U.S. Any form of tariffs and the resulting cost increases will ultimately lead to inflation, impacting both economies," said Sotelo.
US tariff hurts Mexico-US trade, raises costs, economic risks: Mexican insiders
