By Jim Wyss
Dec 5, 2025 - A Chinese hospital ship has docked in hurricane-affected Jamaica this week. This move comes as the US military is involved in a controversial anti-drug mission aimed at Venezuela.
The ship, named the Silk Road Ark, is a large Chinese Navy vessel equipped with 300 hospital beds, along with around 100 doctors and support personnel. It represents China's growing influence in the Caribbean, a region that still supports Taiwan, China's rival.
The floating hospital arrived at the port of Montego Bay on Thursday. Jamaica is still recovering from Hurricane Melissa, which hit in late October, resulting in over 45 fatalities, damaging hospitals, and causing about $9 billion in losses.
Jamaica's Health and Wellness Minister Christopher Tufton stated that the country greatly needs this vessel due to the ongoing challenges. He noted, "This is another big development that shows the spirit of friendship and partnership."
Meanwhile, the US has also been active in Jamaica’s recovery efforts. Wayne Chen, chairman of the southern regional health authority, noted that the US administration under President Donald Trump promised over $22 million in aid. However, the US Navy's two main hospital ships, USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, are currently in US ports.
During the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, US Chinook helicopters flew overhead, delivering food and water to isolated communities, Chen explained in an interview. He remarked that most Jamaicans felt grateful for the international assistance received from both established allies and private organizations. Additionally, El Salvador contributed over 300 troops for cleanup efforts, while the UK and Venezuela provided support as well. “So the Chinese ship is also very welcome,” he added.
The timing of China's arrival was fortunate. The Silk Road Ark departed from China in early September and had already planned to visit Jamaica, along with other countries such as Barbados, Brazil, and Chile. However, the ship adjusted its itinerary in light of the hurricane's impact.
In contrast, the USNS Comfort completed its Caribbean tour in August but did not stop in Jamaica.
The hospital ship will offer services such as cataract and hernia surgeries, CT scans, ultrasounds, and blood tests, as reported by Jamaican health authorities.
Tensions have been escalating in the region for several months. The US has sent nearly a dozen warships, including its largest aircraft carrier, and over 15,000 troops to the Caribbean. What began as a counter-narcotics mission has now developed into a broader effort to pressure Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whom the US accuses of running a drug-trafficking cartel.
While Washington conducts strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, most countries in the region have called for restraint to maintain peace. Trinidad and Tobago, along with the Dominican Republic, has allowed the US military access to its waters, airspace, and bases.
For China, this region is a diplomatic chessboard. Among the 12 countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan, seven are located in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recently, there was a shift when St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, a strong supporter of Taiwan, was voted out of office.