In a move reflecting China’s growing quest for global influence, the Chinese Navy is dispatching its hospital ship, the “Peace Ark,” on a significant tour of the South Pacific.
This deployment comes at a time of intensifying competition between China and the United States and their respective allies for geopolitical sway in the region. The 14,300-metric-tonne vessel will visit Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and East Timor, offering vital medical aid to Chinese citizens, as well...