By Wu Xingyu and Zhang Dayu
Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark meets with the comprehensive supply ship Honghu (Hull 963) of the 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce in the Gulf of Aden. (Photo by Wu Xingyu)
GULF OF ADEN, Dec. 17 -- The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark, which is on the Mission Harmony-2024, met with the 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce in the Gulf of Aden while it was heading to Sri Lanka at around 7 p.m. on December 15, local time.
The Gulf of Aden is one of the busiest sea areas in the world. Every year, many merchant ships travel between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. It is no coincidence that Chinese naval ships met here. Since 2008, batches of Chinese naval service members have sailed to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to protect the safety of international sea lanes and safeguard the interests of China. Since 2010, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark has travelled abroad 12 times and carried out 10 Mission Harmony tasks, providing medical service to patients of different nationalities and skin colors.
This meeting is a powerful proof that the Chinese PLA Navy has become an important provider of international public security products. The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark set sail from Zhoushan City, east China's Zhejiang Province on June 16, 2024. It has visited 12 countries and provided medical diagnosis and treatment for more than 78,000 African people. The 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce set sail from Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province on February 21, 2024, and has been on mission for more than 300 days. It has escorted nearly 30 batches of Chinese and international ships and has carried out diversified tasks including visits and exchanges, and joint exercises and training between China and foreign countries, with a total voyage of nearly 100,000 nautical miles.
The hospital ship Peace Ark and the 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce have put into practice the Global Security Initiative and served the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and a maritime community with a shared future through practical actions. Once again, they have demonstrated to the world the good image of the Chinese PLA Navy in maintaining regional peace and stability and fulfilling its international responsibilities and obligations.