Type 920 Daishandao Hospital Ship - Humanitarian Assistance
Some observers were quick to suggest that the new Type 920 hospital ship would 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 has had a long involvement with Africa, dating back to the 1960s. Over the following decades, China provided technical expertise, doctors, scholarships, and various other forms of aid. The sending of medical teams and agricultural specialists continues to be a mainstay of its assistance to Africa. More than 15,000 Chinese doctors have worked in Africa since 1963. By 2005 nearly 1,000 Chinese doctors were reportedly working in African countries. In general, African states view China as one of their own - a Third World country.
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.
Upon the approval of the General Staff Headquarters of the PLA, the newly revised Outline of Military Training and Evaluation was formally promulgated and issued to the PLA and the Armed Police Force in July 2008. Some argued that the construction of this new class of Hospital Ship seemed to suggest that PLA is following on its promise. The new outline will come into effect in the PLA and the Armed Police Force from January 1, 2009. The new outline is made up of two major aspects, namely joint training and trainings by various services and arms, and covers all the specialties of various services and arms. With enhancing joint operation capability of the troops as the focus, the outline lays out such training contents as: training at operational level of various services, combined tactics, element training, and tactical and technical training.
The new outline has also developed the training of military operation other than war (MOOTW), increased the proportion of informationization knowledge and expertise as well as simulated training of hi-tech weapons and equipment such as aircraft, naval vessels and missiles, standardized the methods, procedures and criterions of networked, on-base and confrontational trainings, defined conditions, forms, methods and requirements for training under complicated electromagnetic environment, training at night, and training under complicated weather conditions.
The August 2009 US Office of Naval Intelligence report "The People's Liberation Army Navy: A Modern Navy With Chinese Characteristics" stated "Humanitarian assistance and naval diplomacy missions may leverage conventional naval forces, but are more likely to concentrate on flexible expeditionary and multimission capabilities able to respond quickly to crises and provide logistical support at extended ranges from shore. The PRC is unlikely to build ships exclusively for humanitarian assistance missions; however, multimission ships like the Yuzhao LPD and Anwei AH hospital ship will be key assets in support of humanitarian or diplomatic missions."
China sent the "Peace Ark" navy hospital ship as part of its relief aid to the Philippines, following criticism that it was not doing enough to help its typhoon-hit neighbor. The two countries were currently involved in a territorial dispute. Typhoon Haiyan tore through the central Philippines, leaving over 4,000 people dead and millions displaced. China, which has the world's second largest economy, initially offered $100,000 to Manila. Following domestic and international criticism, it increased its aid contribution by $1.6 million in supplies.
On September 22, 2018, the ship arrived at LaGuarda Port with the boat and began an eight-day friendly visit to Venezuela. This is the first visit of China's naval vessels to Venezuela, and Venezuela is also the 38th country to visit.
On January 18, 2019, the Navy and the Square Boat Hospital, which successfully completed the "Harmonious Mission - 2018" mission, successfully arrived at a military port in Zhoushan. The mission lasted 205 days and the total voyage was 31,800 nautical miles. It achieved the first visit of Chinese naval vessels to Venezuela, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica. On December 29, 2018, the Navy gave a collective first-class merit to the boat of the Zhouzhou Hospital. During the visit, all the officers and men worked hard to be the propagandists of the Chinese concept, the spokesperson of the Chinese image, and the Chinese culture. The communicator, the demonstrator of the Chinese army, had a cumulative diagnosis and treatment of 50,884 person-times, assisted in the inspection of 26,231 person-times, performed 288 operations, and held joint emergency medical rescue drills, academic exchanges, cultural associations with foreign parties for more than 20 times, and sent several teams to the local area.
On April 23, 2019, the maritime military parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy was held in the sea and airspace near Qingdao. The "Square Boat" hospital boat participated in the review. On April 27, 2019, the hospital boat of the square boat was awarded the "China Youth May Fourth Medal Collective".
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