13 days after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck in the Philippines, China has decided to send a state-of-the-art hospital ship in the Typhoon-destroyed areas following criticism that it was slow and stingy in its response to one of the world's biggest typhoons, which killed at least 4,000 people. The Foreign Ministry in Beijing confirmed on Tuesday the deployment of the 14,000 tonne "Peace Ark" as state television reported the arrival of the 1st batch of Chinese relief supplies in the Philippines. The Ark's exact area of operations and time of arrival have not been confirmed, but spokesperson Hong Lei said it would sail on Thursday.
