SANTIAGO, Chile, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Chile denied permission for a Chinese hospital ship to provide medical services onboard, saying ‌the vessel lacked authorization to treat local residents, a ‌decision that came amid heightened pressure from the U.S. over a proposed undersea ​cable project.

The medical ship Silk Road Ark is currently on a voyage to about a dozen countries and arrived in waters off the Chilean port city of Valparaiso on Wednesday.

Chile's Ministry of Health said ‌through its regional office ⁠that it had been reviewing a request made through the foreign ministry at the end of 2025 ⁠that the ship offer medical services aboard for local people, but would not grant authorization.

“We determined that it is not appropriate to ​authorize ​this health operation to function on ​the ship’s facilities,” the ‌health ministry said, refererring to a local health code that restricts such services to professionals accredited in the country.

China's embassy in Chile did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chile has been navigating pressure from Washington over its ties to China.

The U.S. ‌said it would impose visa restrictions for ​three Chilean officials who it said compromised ​critical telecommunications infrastructure and ​undermined regional security.

Chilean foreign minister Alberto van Klaveren ‌said a proposal by two ​Chinese companies to ​build an undersea cable linking Chile and Hong Kong had concerned the U.S., which believed the project could pose a ​threat to security.

Chilean ‌officials have said the project is in early stages and ​has not been confirmed.

(Reporting by Fabian Cambero, editing by ​Cassandra Garrison and Ethan Smith)