Ship 866

The Chinese navy’s first purpose-built hospital ship.

In December 2008, China’s official People’s Daily reported on the launch of the 10,000-ton Ship 866:

This large-scale hospital carrier, honored as the “lifesaving vessel” by naval officers and soldiers, features high-tech, comprehensive functions and facilities equivalent to level-three, class A hospitals.

It is an unarmed service ship specifically used to accommodate, provide medical treatment to and transport injured patients and the deceased. It will be an important piece of medical support equipment in future naval battles.

During wartime, the carrier can be used as a “maritime field hospital” by providing early diagnosis and treatment, and some specialized treatments for the injured and ill. In peacetime, it can serve as a permanent medical institution for medium and long range naval missions, visiting military harbors in various waters to carry out medical exchanges.

It can also play an important role in supporting local governments in emergency rescue and disaster relief, participating in international medical cooperation as well as undertaking international humanitarian aid tasks.

A month earlier, in a fascinating analysis for World Politics Review, David Axe explored China’s motives for building Ship 866 and other new vessels:

To some observers, the new vessels’ acceptances have signaled Beijing’s determination to compete, or even cooperate, with Washington in the realm of soft power. Others say the vessels are intended for more conventional military tasks, but could find themselves pressed into humanitarian missions during major disasters.

Axe also discussed claims that Ship 866 was motivated by China’s embarrassment at its inability to offer maritime support after the 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami – and suggestions that the hospital ship is, in fact, part of Beijing’s wider territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.