The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, arrived in Bridgetown, Barbados, on December 21, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in its Mission Harmony 2025 initiative. The vessel will provide free medical services to local communities during its seven-day stay, part of its longest humanitarian tour to date, spanning over a dozen countries in the South Pacific and Latin America.
Mission Harmony 2025 underscores China's commitment to global health cooperation, with the Silk Road Ark offering specialized treatments in optometry, dentistry, and general surgery. A PLA Navy spokesperson emphasized the mission's alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, stating it 'strengthens cross-regional ties through shared humanitarian values.'
This year's tour has already delivered care to over 15,000 patients in nations including Fiji and Chile. Analysts note the initiative's dual role in fostering soft diplomacy while addressing critical healthcare gaps in underserved regions. Barbados health officials praised the collaboration, calling it a 'model for South-South cooperation.'
