Largest Chinese hospital ship tests its mettle

China's largest hospital ship began its first exercise in mid-March in the East China Sea, the Chinese army's official newspaper reported yesterday.

The move signaled China is now among a few nations capable of performing more complicated offshore missions because of advanced medical support, military experts have said.

The exercise tested the medical facilities' functioning at sea, the People's Liberation Army Daily quoted Shen Junliang, a medical specialist onboard, as saying.

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