In Latin America, China’s Silk Road Ark is sunk 

In late 2025, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy launched a tour across Latin America and the Caribbean with a military hospital ship. The communist superpower wanted to show its muscles and display geopolitical relevance. The tour has turned out to be a massive catastrophe, though, as only six out of 33 countries in the region welcomed the ship — the Silk Road Ark.   

In December, Beijing issued its third policy paper on Latin America, stating that it “will actively carry out military exchanges and cooperation,” “expand friendly exchanges between defense and military leading officials” and “strengthen policy dialogue and set up working meeting mechanisms” with Latin American nations.

The paper also noted the goal to “conduct mutual visits between delegations and vessels, deepen professional exchanges in such fields as military training” and “enhance cooperation in military trade and military technology.” So no, China was not just looking to promote innocent health care services.  

Despite this, very few countries decided to open their doors to a Chinese military vessel.

Brazil, Chile, Jamaica and Barbados agreed to receive the ship. Nicaragua and Uruguay were added at the last minute as technical stops. In Chile, health care authorities rejected China’s offer, even though the ship had arrived in Valparaiso. Peru withdrew a congressional bill that would have permitted Silk Road Ark into the country, also citing health care concerns. Despite loud propaganda, Mexico quietly disappeared........

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