Chinese navy hospital ship treats over 26,000 in longest overseas medical mission

SANYA -- "Is this a 'boat that treats illnesses,' just like yours?" This question was asked by a four-year-old patient from Barbados, sitting in a pediatric consultation room, after receiving a paper boat as a gift from her Chinese doctor.

When she was told yes, she leaned in and gave the paper boat a kiss.

The consultation room where the girl was treated was set up aboard a visiting Chinese naval hospital ship that was in Barbados at that time to carry out an overseas medical mission.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, on Sunday returned home after completing the 234-day overseas medical mission, the longest deployment of its kind undertaken by the Chinese navy.

Codenamed "Mission Harmony-2025," the voyage began in September 2025 and took the ship to Nauru, Fiji, Tonga, Jamaica, Barbados and Papua New Guinea, where it delivered a wide range of free medical services to local communities.

Over the course of the mission, the team handled 26,324 outpatient visits and performed 2,724 surgical operations. In addition, 17,273 diagnostic tests and examinations were carried out, while 136 patients were given inpatient care.

The crew members also conducted medical exchanges during their stays in Brazil and Chile, and took part in joint maritime exercises with the navies of Fiji, Tonga and Brazil.

"Mission Harmony" is an overseas humanitarian medical service program organized by the Chinese navy since 2010. The previous 10 missions were carried out by the hospital ship Peace Ark. The latest mission, the 11th in the series, marked the first overseas deployment of Silk Road Ark.