NATO and Chinese Navy Join Forces

NATO joined with a medical delegation from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy Friday to provide medical assistance to the people of Qandala, Somalia.

NATO and Chinese Navy Join Forces to Bring Medical Assistance to Somali People

Building upon previous meetings between the two Naval counter-piracy forces, NATO joined with a medical delegation from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy Friday to provide medical assistance to the people of Qandala, Somalia, aboard ITS SAN MARCO, NATO’s counter-piracy flagship.

Four high-ranking Chinese medical officers from CNS HARBIN came aboard NATO’s flagship to take part in the medical assistance activity it was conducting off the coast of Somalia. This activity followed less than a week after the visit of Admiral Yuan Yubai, the Chinese task Group commander, aboard ITS SAN MARCO.

“This could very well be the most important event of ITS SAN MARCO’s deployment,” said Rear Admiral Natale, NATO Operation OCEAN SHIELD Commander. “After several meetings at sea with the Chinese Navy, we have now demonstrated that NATO and China can cooperate in activities to enhance the security and stability of the region.”

The successful NATO-China medical mission concludes a week of such medical support to the people of Somalia. Earlier in the week, ITS SAN MARCO’s crew provided medical assistance aboard the ship to Somalis from the fishing village of Xabo. These activities both provide badly needed care for those receiving treatment and build trust in the Somali people of NATO’s efforts in the region to eliminate piracy.

Source: NATO.