The Chilean Ministry of Health said on Friday that it had reviewed the Silk Road Ark’s request and decided not to grant it, citing a health code that restricts such services to professionals accredited in the country, Reuters reported.
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“We determined that it is not appropriate to authorise this health operation to function on the ship’s facilities,” the ministry said.
The Silk Road Ark is a Chinese naval ship equipped with 14 clinical departments, seven diagnostic units and a rescue helicopter.
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It is a symbol of China’s soft power and has been on a 220-day voyage to about a dozen countries in the western hemisphere since late December, arriving in waters off the Chilean port city of Valparaiso on Wednesday.
