Red Crosses, Blue Water: Hospital Ships and China’s Expanding Naval Presence

This paper traces the development of China’s hospital ships since the 1970s, culminating with the missions of China’s premier hospital ship, the “Peace Ark.”  It then explores the ways in which Chinese hospital ships are being used, and how they might be deployed in the future. Finally, it addresses the implications of China’s use of hospital ships for the country’s expanding maritime hard and soft power.7 In order to complete these tasks, the study draws heavily on Chinese open-source media, including military affairs journals and newspapers.