A Chinese ship’s ongoing tour of several Latin American countries is a medical service mission, according to Chinese authorities.
But the ship’s recent visit to Brazil heightened concerns that the hospital ship’s mission is more than humanitarian, after Brazilian authorities were prevented from inspecting the massive vessel.
When the ship, dubbed the Silk Road Ark, reached Rio de Janeiro in early January, Brazilian authorities raised concerns that it was providing medical care without local authorization. Others feared the unauthorized care could be a cover for information gathering or espionage.
Concerns about the visit come alongside increasing U.S. attention to the region with the revival of the Monroe Doctrine under President Donald Trump and the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Meanwhile, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in December showed wargames with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) simulating combat near Cuba, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean….
Chinese ‘Hospital Ship’ Touring Latin America Suspected to Be Chinese Navy
