China is committed to working with regional countries to foster a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation in the South China Sea, a Chinese military spokesperson said on Thursday.
Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a query on the recent rescue of a Philippine fisherman by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea.
"During a routine patrol in waters under China's jurisdiction, crew members of a Chinese PLA Navy vessel rescued a distressed Philippine fisherman. Many Filipinos expressed gratitude and commended this humanitarian act by the Chinese side. Certain individuals in the Philippines have sought to exploit their own fishermen as pawns for maritime infringements, provocations, and sensational propaganda, putting them in an awkward position and without any regard for their livelihoods and safety. These hypocritical and cold-blooded individuals also made unfounded accusations against China. Facts speak louder than words, and people can tell right from wrong. China remains unwavering in its resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and is committed to working with countries in the region to foster a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation in the South China Sea," said Zhang.
China committed to fostering peace, friendship, cooperation in South China Sea: spokesperson
The Chinese naval hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, carried out a medical rescue drill in Atlantic waters during its Mission Harmony 2025, testing its capability to provide medical support during long-distance deployments.
The drill marked the vessel's first overseas medical-support exercise in unfamiliar waters in 2026, designed to simulate real-world emergency response scenarios far from home ports.
It brought together the hospital ship, a sea-based medical facility and shipborne helicopters in a coordinated rescue operation.
The exercise was conducted against a simulated backdrop of a commercial vessel in distress on the high seas with multiple casualties. After receiving the emergency signals, a shipborne helicopter immediately took off under an aerial evacuation plan, transferring simulated injured personnel to the triage area for rapid assessment and emergency treatment.
As part of the exercise, medical teams practiced a time-sensitive rescue approach, combining casualty transfer, triage and treatment to ensure prompt and accurate assessment of injuries under operational conditions.
"We followed the principle of providing treatment while transferring and carrying out triage and rescuing, ensuring that casualties are correctly assessed at the earliest time possible. If a patient is in a critical condition, we must carry out necessary emergency treatment in the triage area. Once vital signs are relatively stable, the patient is then transferred to an appropriate treatment unit," said Jiang Yingbo, a member of the Mission Harmony 2025.
Severely injured patients were transferred to intensive care units for further observation and treatment after surgery. A medical expert group then conducted timely consultations to formulate targeted treatment plans.
Under complex sea conditions in distant waters, the drill covered multiple training modules including maritime evacuation, triage, emergency treatment and surgery, strengthening the military medical ship's integrated emergency medical response, and enhancing the navy's far-sea medical support capability, according to the authorities.
Chinese navy hospital ship drills medical rescue in Atlantic waters
