China's Peace Ark: building bridges with Pacific island nations

Abstract

At a time when China’s navy is synonymous with assertiveness and Beijing is focused on the country’s soft power projection, there is one Chinese asset that has gone unnoticed. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)’s hospital ship, Peace Ark (known in Chinese as Daishan Dao), is one of the few instruments in China’s diplomatic toolbox that is contributing to slowing the decline of China’s image in the region.