Photos Show Where US and China Have Sent Hospital Ships
Both China and the United States, rivals in the contest for naval dominance in the Pacific, have recently deployed naval hospital ships.
USNS Comfort has been conducting a medical mission in Latin America since May 30, according to the U.S. Navy. Meanwhile, CNS Silk Road Ark departed for islands and reefs in the contested South China Sea on Monday, according to the Chinese military.
China's navy is larger than its U.S. counterpart by hull count. While most of their vessels are designed for combat, both naval forces operate hospital ships that function as floating mobile medical facilities-supporting military missions, disaster relief and humanitarian operations.
The Chinese and American hospital ship deployments come after China commissioned its third oceangoing hospital ship, CNS Auspicious Ark, in May-a major milestone that now sees all three of China's theater command fleets equipped with their own hospital ships.
The Comfort departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, for a mission known as Continuing Promise 2025, aimed at providing patient care and technical expertise in community clinics across Grenada, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.
The hospital ship arrived in St. George's, the capital of the Caribbean island of Grenada, on June 9, according to the U.S. Navy. In addition to providing medical care, American service members will renovate buildings and repair infrastructure damaged by natural disasters.
The Comfort is one of two Mercy-class hospital ships operated by the U.S. Navy, alongside USNS Mercy. The 63,000-ton ship-delivered to the Navy in 1987-is equipped with 1,000 patient beds, 11 general-purpose operating rooms and one interventional radiology suite.
Meanwhile, the Silk Road Ark departed the coastal city of Sanya-on China's southern Hainan Island-for its second "medical outreach voyage" since entering service in 2024.
"The mission focuses on meeting the medical needs of service members on islands," the Chinese military said in a press release. China controls a number of maritime features in the South China Sea, where its sovereignty claims overlap with those of several other countries.
The 10,000-ton Silk Road Ark is smaller than the Comfort, with a capacity of 300 patient beds. The vessel-China's second 10,000-ton oceangoing hospital ship-is capable of hosting eight surgical operations simultaneously, according to China Daily.
The U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command said in a press release on June 9:"[Continuing Promise 2025] marks the 16th mission to the region since 2007 and the eighth aboard [USNS] Comfort. The mission will foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and encourage the establishment of new partnerships among countries, non-federal entities, and international organizations."
The Chinese military said in a press release on Tuesday: "[CNS Silk Road Ark's] major tasks include medical rescue and evacuation of the wounded at sea, international humanitarian medical service, emergency medical rescue in major disasters, and foreign military medical exchanges and cooperation."
It remains to be seen whether China will expand its fleet of hospital ships as part of its naval modernization efforts, thereby increasing operational flexibility for deployments across different regions.
Related Articles
Russia Warns US Over Iran AttackIndian Prime Minister Contradicts TrumpTrump Says Iran Should Have Negotiated Before Conflict Escalated: Live UpdatesHamas Sends Warning to U.S. Over Iran Attack
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
18 hours ago
- Epoch Times
How Women Can Prevent Hair Loss by Nourishing the Liver and Kidneys
Hair health reflects overall physical well-being. Women often experience hair loss due to various causes, including postpartum recovery, menopause, alopecia areata, or scalp issues such as itchiness and dandruff, exacerbated by summer heat. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach, emphasizing a blend of targeted dietary supplements, meticulous scalp care, and proper hair-washing techniques to reduce hair loss effectively. Dr. Chen Hsin-hung, a TCM practitioner at Hanyitang Chinese Medicine clinics in Taiwan, shared a case of hair loss. A woman in her 20s developed alopecia areata (patchy baldness) after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, which left her deeply distressed when her hair almost entirely fell out. Through 6 to 8 months of TCM treatment, she regrew dark, vibrant hair. Exploring Hair Loss Causes With TCM From the perspective of TCM, the liver and kidneys are closely related to hair health as they play a vital role in the internal organ-centered energy system.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
My Chinese mom's timeless health tips — including a ‘magic' go-to and a plant that helps with cramps, colds, and upset stomachs
Modern health trends come and go, but the real secret to feeling your best may lie in ancient practices you can do right at home. 'So many of my wellness roots trace back to my mom's kitchen. She always believed that food is medicine and that healing starts long before you're sick,' Lulu Ge, founder of Elix, a wellness brand inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), told The Post. Ge shared three of her mother's time-tested food tips, plus two bonus remedies, to help you spend less time in the doctor's office and more time enjoying your life. 5 Lulu Ge notes that traditional Chinese medicine focuses on whole-body wellness. Courtesy of Elix Healing Keep it warm to beat the cramps Ladies, listen up: 'Eat warming foods for a warm, pain-free womb,' Ge said. That means ditching iced drinks, especially during your period. In TCM, the menstrual cycle is believed to be closely linked to the flow of 'Qi,' or vital energy, and blood. Ge's mother warned that getting chilled can cause stagnation, leading to painful cramps, irregular periods and trouble shedding the uterine lining. The remedy? Load up on warming spices and cooked foods, while avoiding cold and raw dishes, to keep your blood flowing and stay pain-free. Ginger to the rescue Used in Chinese and Indian medicine for thousands of years, ginger comes from the root of the Zingiber officinale plant. 5 Ginger can reduce bloating and support digestion. Luis Echeverri Urrea – 'It's a warming spice shown to help with digestive issues, nausea, and bloating,' Ge said. Here's how it works: ginger speeds up the rate at which food leaves the stomach, which helps those with delayed stomach emptying — a common cause of nausea. It also reduces fermentation, constipation and other causes of bloating and gas. Additionally, ginger contains gingerol, a compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. These help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, easing stomach pain and cramps. Whenever Ge had cramps, a cold, or an upset stomach, her mother would simmer fresh ginger into tea and insist she sip it slowly. 'Now, I keep Elix's Ginger Aide with me everywhere as a nod to that tradition,' she said. The product is a pure concentrate of decocted organic ginger slices that allows users 'to feel the effects of plant medicine in a gentle, daily ritual.' Broth that heals Bone broth isn't just soup — it's liquid gold. Made by simmering animal bones for hours, it's packed with collagen, minerals and amino acids. 5 Bone broth is made from animal bones and connective tissue, typically cattle, chicken or fish. qwartm – 'Bone broth = magic,' Ge said. 'It was the go-to for recovery — after illness or just when life felt depleting.' In TCM, bone broth is a powerhouse elixir that boosts Qi, blood and 'Yin' energy, which is responsible for providing the body with the moisture it needs to function properly. When yin is low, you may experience symptoms such as dry skin, night sweats, constipation and anxiety. Qi deficiency often manifests as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and loss of appetite. In TCM, bone broth is also often used to nourish postpartum mothers, giving them the nutrients and energy needed to recover from childbirth and support lactation. Ge said her mother always paired bone broth with goji berries, red dates and, of course, a dash of love. The power of rest In TCM, wellness isn't just about what's on your plate. 'My mom made sure I prioritized sleep and restorative 'Yin' time for rest and relaxation,' Ge said, noting this is especially crucial during your period, when you're wiped out or feeling on the verge of getting sick. 'She saw rest as a form of healing — not a luxury, but a necessity. It helps you bounce back with fresh energy and focus,' Ge added. 5 About 84 million Americans don't consistently get the recommended amount of sleep for optimal health. Syda Productions – In the US, about 1 in 3 adults regularly miss out on the sleep they need to stay healthy, according to a 2022 Gallup poll. Adequate sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being, enabling the brain and body to undergo critical repair and restoration processes. These include muscle recovery, tissue growth, and hormone regulation, as well as the removal of toxins, support of immune function and memory consolidation. Skip the pills — try this first 'Anytime I had pain, her instinct was to reach for a warming balm, acupressure point or herbal patch first,' Ge said. 'She trusted the body could heal — with the right support.' 5 Ge recommends blending Eastern and Western approaches for optimal health. Courtesy of Elix Healing TCM treats the whole person, aiming to fix root problems, not just mask symptoms like Western medicine often does. Herbal patches and balms work by delivering healing directly through the skin to sore spots, cutting down on systemic side effects and targeting the pain where it hurts most. In TCM, your skin mirrors is also thought to mirror your inner health. These external remedies help strengthen and repair it, making you tougher against the daily grind. Plus, balms and patches team up with internal herbs for a one-two punch, tackling symptoms and restoring balance throughout the body's energy system. All these tips can boost your health — but don't ditch Western medicine just yet. 'The real power lies in blending Eastern and Western medicine,' Ge said. 'Western tools for acute issues and diagnostics, TCM for long-term support, prevention and personalized care. Together, they offer something truly holistic,' she explained.
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
The Triple Threat Draining Workforce Productivity And Mental Health
Productivity and mental health are taking a hit for three reasons. Numbers never lie: it's why CEOs obsess over revenue targets, operational metrics, quarterly growth, and more. Yet beneath the spreadsheets and data dashboards lies an invisible crisis quietly eroding organizational strength and productivity: the deteriorating mental health and emotional resilience of today's workforce. A comprehensive 2025 State of the Workforce Report by meQuilibrium, surveying 5,477 employees across various industries, identified a troublesome "triple threat" that undermines employee performance and well-being: uncertainty, pessimism, and psychological disconnection. These aren't mere HR concerns; they're operational risks with quantifiable financial impacts. The data paints a clear picture: These challenges are silently sabotaging productivity, further inflating turnover costs, and increasingly impacting employee well-being. The Real Cost Of The Triple Threat Uncertainty alone led to a 68% increase in productivity impairment. Employees facing high uncertainty stress experience twice the risk of generalized anxiety disorders and nearly double the rate of burnout, costing American companies between $4,000 and $21,000 per employee annually, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Pessimism compounds this impact significantly. Workers with negative job outlooks report a 64% decrease in productivity, alongside a staggering 128% higher risk of depression and 108% higher risk of anxiety compared to optimistic colleagues. The psychological disconnect further exacerbates productivity losses. Even employees displaying no signs of disconnect report an average productivity impairment of 29%, while severely disconnected employees experience impairment rates of up to 66%. This triple threat isn't fleeting; it's systemic and escalating, making employee mental health and emotional resilience one of your organization's significant, yet often overlooked, financial liabilities. Foundational Strategies To Improve Productivity And Mental Health A company thrives when its people thrive. Amid volatility and continuous disruptions, the greatest threat to any organization is a workforce characterized by stress, negativity, disengagement, and poor health. However, this crisis presents opportunities to cultivate resilience and strength. While each company is unique, these foundational actions can universally elevate employee well-being and productivity: Fitness offers more than aesthetics. It's a strategic investment. CEOs like Bob Iger strongly advocate for fitness because it improves their mood, focus, emotional regulation, executive presence, and resilience. To build a health-driven culture, leaders must actively model wellness practices. Sleep is equally critical. Improved sleep and recovery improve individuals' decision-making and emotional regulation and reduce team volatility. Prioritizing a health-first culture also serves as a strong talent attractor and retention tool. Ambiguity breeds stress, especially with technological disruptions like AI, which create concerns about job stability. Clear and consistent communication significantly mitigates uncertainty. Leaders must frequently reiterate their vision in a way that integrates each person seamlessly. Also key is establishing priorities and performance expectations along with transparency in explaining the rationale behind decisions. Vulnerability and candor strengthen trust, which further reduces speculation and disengagement among employees and investors alike. Soft skills matter significantly, even in the data-driven corporate world. As highlighted in the report, empathetic managers reduce uncertainty stress by 37% and disconnect by nearly 50%. CEOs and senior leaders can actively cultivate empathy through the following: Better Mental Well-Being Equals Improved Productivity Addressing the triple threat isn't merely beneficial—it's critical. The modern workforce faces numerous challenges that threaten employees' mental health and productivity. With ongoing volatility and persistent uncertainty, investing in mental health and resilience becomes not just advantageous but essential. As technology democratizes and ceases to offer unique competitive advantages, the companies that will lead tomorrow are those who invest significantly in their people's well-being today.
