Integrating Youth into the Vast Blue Waves: Remembering the Brave Sacrifice of Guangxi Coast Guard Officer Qiao Helin in Anti-Smuggling Operations

[Global Times - Global Network Report by reporter Fan Wei] During the Qingming Festival, the Xuanhan Martyrs' Cemetery stands solemnly with tall pines and cypress trees mourning. Local residents spontaneously gathered at the grave of martyr Qiao Helin, offering flowers and standing in silent tribute.

A student bent down to place a white chrysanthemum and several oranges in front of the tombstone, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the tombstone. He gazed at the martyr's portrait on the tombstone and softly said, "Big brother, the oranges from home are especially sweet, you should try some."

Behind the student are layers of stone tablets, some names eroded by wind and rain, others already blurred and hard to discern. More than 90 years ago, those Red Army soldiers were as young as Qiao Helin, fighting bloodily on this land until they sacrificed their lives. The sunlight crossed the ridge, illuminating the entire cemetery, connecting the young souls with the fallen heroes in the same light. At the intersection of light and shadow, this young law enforcement officer completed his "enlistment."

From now on, the green mountains will never grow old; he will be with the mountains and rivers.

Chasing you for thousands of miles

—— "The ones at the front are all party members; I also want to wear the party emblem on missions."

Xuanhan, a revolutionary hotbed soaked in red genes, was once traversed by the Red Fourth Front Army, leaving behind glorious battle footprints. Qiao Helin grew up in this red fertile land.

When he was 8 years old, the Wenchuan earthquake tore apart the land of Bashu. Little Helin watched on television as PLA soldiers braved aftershocks, racing against time to rescue trapped civilians, his eyes wide open. His uncle, who had served in the military, pointed at the screen and said, "That is the party's team! When the sky falls, they support the people."

This sentence, along with those figures going against the tide, was deeply etched in Qiao Helin's heart.

The seed of defending the home and the country in his heart gradually sprouted over time. Years later, Qiao Helin gave up his beloved art major and resolutely chose to apply to the Coast Guard Academy. Before leaving, his uncle handed him a brand new "Constitution of the Communist Party of China." "Take this," the old man's hand trembled slightly, "You are a child raised on red soil; you must strive to join the party as soon as possible and be a good guardian of the people."

During his studies at the Coast Guard Academy, Qiao Helin applied to the organization three times, expressing his desire to work in the most challenging grassroots positions after graduation. Ultimately, he fulfilled his wish and arrived at one of the coastal cities with the most complex smuggling situations—Fangchenggang, Guangxi. "Since I am here to guard the maritime borders, I must stand at the forefront," he said.

However, the conditions at the work station were far more difficult than he had imagined. When he first arrived, the camp had only a few simple houses and a rudimentary dock, battered by the scorching sun and the corrosive sea breeze. Every night, the dim lights of the camp contrasted sharply with the neon lights of "Wanwwei Gold Beach" across the bay, and Qiao Helin felt the psychological gap for the first time. The greater challenge was the heavy duties: all-night shifts, frequent emergencies, and never enough rest time left him physically and mentally exhausted.

In the dead of night, he also questioned himself: Was the choice I made right?

In his confusion, the Guangxi Coast Guard Bureau sent a "welcome gift" to the newly appointed law enforcement officers, leading them to pay homage to the "Three Glories" revolutionary martyrs' monument, learn to sing "The Sea Given to Me by My Motherland," and participate in the activity of painting the maritime boundary markers... That day, Qiao Helin stood in front of the 1377 maritime boundary marker, holding a brush, carefully painting each stroke. Afterwards, he told his comrades, "When I painted the words 'China,' I felt my hand tremble. At that moment, I truly felt the weight of these two words."

As he continued on this path, his passion dispelled the gloom in his heart. Three months later, an event further shaped his image of a "Coast Guard officer"—

On October 9, 2023, law enforcement officer Ou Zhiqiang encountered violent resistance from criminals while carrying out a smuggling operation. To protect his comrades, Ou Zhiqiang suffered four broken ribs during the fight but endured the pain until the mission was completed.

At the "Guangxi Sea Lecture Hall" organized by the Guangxi Coast Guard Bureau, several comrades shared Ou Zhiqiang's story of struggle from different perspectives, deeply moving Qiao Helin, who kept repeating Ou Zhiqiang's words—"I am a party member; if there is danger, I will go first." He made a silent vow to use his role model as a mirror, learn from the pioneers, and become a true "Coast Guard officer."

From that day on, Qiao Helin rose early and practiced law enforcement skills diligently, studying the "Coast Guard Law" and other regulations, actively volunteering for various duty tasks, honing his skills through practice. Law enforcement officer Wang Supeng commented that he was like a tightly wound "spring," operating tirelessly between heavy tasks such as sea patrols, ambushes, and inspections without showing any signs of slackening.

Years of battling the wind and waves left him with injuries in his knees, lumbar spine, and left ribs, which he never mentioned until his sacrifice. During a heart-to-heart talk, instructor Mo Chengling asked him why he worked so hard. Qiao Helin replied, "The ones at the front are all party members; I also want to wear the party emblem on missions!"

The ideal of a 25-year-old law enforcement officer is simple, pure, and incredibly passionate.

When sorting through his belongings, they found that copy of the "Party Constitution." The inner pages were frayed from being repeatedly read, and this "Party Constitution" accompanied him through his studies at the academy and followed him to the southern border of the motherland, witnessing the struggles and growth of this maritime guardian.

After Qiao Helin's sacrifice, the organization posthumously recognized him as a member of the Communist Party of China. Although he could not personally receive that party emblem, this young man who dedicated his life to his original intention and mission finally received the "medal" he desired most.

United in the storm to form a piece of steel

—— "The sea we came together from must also return us together to the shore home."

On the morning of December 9, 2025, the news of Qiao Helin falling into the water reached the work station, plunging the entire station into silence. Everyone rushed to the dock, boarding every boat they could find. Coast Guard, fishery administration, maritime affairs, local fishermen... over 630 people quickly assembled to conduct a net-style search in this complex sea area.

The tides rose and fell, fog gathered and dispersed. One day, two days, three days... everyone silently prayed in their hearts, searching day and night. Everyone felt a strong determination: they must find him and bring him home. "Helin! Where are you? Come home!" The calls of his comrades drowned out the howling winds and waves.

"The sea we came together from must also return us together to the shore home," said law enforcement officer Huang Jingyu. "If anyone is in danger, everyone will rush up. Helin was the one who was the most reckless."

Huang Jingyu cannot forget that deep night of October 8, 2025, when he and two comrades were chasing a suspicious speedboat, and the boat lost control and crashed ashore. To save the trapped civilians on the boat, the three were accidentally injured by the high-speed spinning propeller. Due to low tide and complex sea conditions, the rescue law enforcement boat could not approach. In a critical moment, Qiao Helin, relying on his knowledge of the sea area, directed the small boat to navigate through the reefs and oyster piles in the shallow waters, jumped into the sea alone, and carried each of the three injured comrades back to the small boat, effectively "snatching" precious treatment time for them. Huang Jingyu said, "At that time, the doctor said, if it had been any later, I might have lost my hand."

On the afternoon of December 11, comrades found Qiao Helin at sea, and everyone present was in tears. "This time, let me come to get you," Huang Jingyu and other comrades worked together to lift him from the cold sea.

At the work station, the bond of camaraderie forged through shared hardships and life-and-death experiences united everyone into a piece of steel. When Qiao Helin first arrived at the station, he was very reserved in this unfamiliar environment. However, everyone showed concern for his well-being in life and helped each other at work, gradually giving him a sense of "home." The warmth he received from his comrades was also passed on to more people—

The work station is built by the sea, with heavy humidity, and many veteran law enforcement officers suffer from arthritis. Qiao Helin would invite his fellow townsman, Zhuo Jiaxing, to make spicy pig's trotters to help everyone dispel wind and dampness.

The old work station's dock had a water level that was too low for vessels to pass. After seeing this, Qiao Helin took a shovel and dredged the channel alone. Later, with everyone's joint efforts, they dug out a channel that could accommodate small boats, which was named "Helin Channel."

Law enforcement officers often work by the sea, enduring wind and sun, and the buttons on their uniforms frequently come off, and seams sometimes come undone. Qiao Helin kept a sewing kit, often stitching up clothes for everyone, saying, "Clothes should be neat; only then can people have spirit!"

Some say Qiao Helin was born with a "warm heart," but this purity actually came more from environmental influence. Instructor Mo Chengling said, "Personal growth cannot be separated from the collective, and the progress of the collective cannot be separated from the struggle of each individual." In recent years, the work station has continuously purified internal relationships and cultivated a new atmosphere, establishing a clear orientation of "relying on quality to stand firm and relying on hard work to make progress." Everyone worked together with a shared purpose, and they have handled over 300 cases and participated in more than 70 maritime rescues, with over 50 people receiving commendations from higher authorities.

After Qiao Helin's sacrifice, the traces he left are still "growing": the dredging of "Helin Channel" is still being carried out regularly, the spicy Sichuan dishes in the cafeteria remain fragrant, the damaged law enforcement uniforms are always mended in time, and everyone discovered that the sewing kit had been filled with new spools of thread again... Even the pothos he planted on the windowsill has been divided into dozens of pots by his comrades, placed at various duty points, growing vigorously in the salty sea breeze, sprouting new leaves and trailing vines. His comrades say that seeing it is like seeing Helin.

In the face of the nation, quietly hiding love in the heart

—— "Helin couldn't wait for his own wedding, but he guarded the reunion of many others."

"After the mission is over, we will get married." This was the last sentence Qiao Helin said to his fiancée, Xiao Wen (a pseudonym), and it is a promise he can no longer fulfill.

Qiao Helin met Xiao Wen in their hometown in Sichuan. The two, who were deeply in love, had long made a promise to spend their lives together. However, as a law enforcement officer, with missions ahead and duties piling up, continuous patrols, inspections, and shifts became the norm. Unable to let go of the heavy responsibilities on his shoulders and feeling sorry for Xiao Wen waiting alone in her hometown, Qiao Helin hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up: "How about... you come to Fangchenggang? It will be closer to me, and we can both feel at ease."

Xiao Wen understood his lack of freedom and even more understood the passionate heart hidden beneath his law enforcement uniform. She packed her bags and traveled thousands of miles to be by Qiao Helin's side. She said, "You guard the sea, and I will guard you on the shore."

Qiao Helin was not one to say romantic words; he silently expressed his feelings through actions. When he came ashore to rest, he would tie on an apron and cook a table of authentic Sichuan dishes for her, using the flavors of his hometown to make up for his absence.

He worked at night while she lived during the day. Coupled with poor signal by the sea, they often experienced "time differences," and letters became the bond for them to convey their longing. Whenever Qiao Helin had time, he would spread out the letter paper, writing about the sunrises and sunsets at sea, the flocks of seagulls he encountered, the bits and pieces of daily duty, and the unspoken thoughts hidden in his heart. Xiao Wen's replies always arrived on time, reminding him to eat on time and stay safe. These thin sheets of paper traveled between the waves and the shore, unable to contain the vast sea but filled with the deep affection and concern of two young people.

In maritime smuggling operations, he was always at the forefront; when missions arose, he never hesitated. But even a tough man has tenderness. Qiao Helin's tenderness was not only for his lover but also for his family.

In the eyes of his comrades, he was notoriously "stingy": when dining out, he only ordered the cheapest fried noodles, used an old water cup with peeling paint for years, and never bought bottled drinks. His comrades occasionally joked about it, and he would just smile.

While sorting through his belongings, his comrades found a savings plan in his dormitory drawer. It read: monthly savings of 5,000 yuan, annual savings of 60,000 yuan. Later, everyone learned that he had saved money by living frugally, sending part of it to his family far away, while the other part was woven into an ordinary "dream"—

The day before his sacrifice, on December 8, Qiao Helin submitted a marriage application to the organization, planning to take a vacation in January to register his marriage with Xiao Wen. The two had dreamed more than once about the future: once they saved enough for a down payment, they would buy a small house in their hometown, not too big, just enough to live in. His wife would tend to the flowers and plants on the balcony while he cooked a pot of fragrant food in the kitchen, with two little cats circling around them, living a stable and warm life. But this simple dream has been lost in the sea along with Qiao Helin.

In July last year, Qiao Helin took a vacation to visit his father and sister in Xinjiang. Seeing them busy in the cotton fields, he silently put on gloves and took a basket to help with the picking. The family reunited in Xinjiang, but only his grandmother stayed behind in their hometown.

Whenever he thought of his grandmother, a gentle light would always appear in Qiao Helin's eyes. His parents divorced when he was young, and he lived with his sister and grandmother. His grandmother was the closest person to him in this world. His sister, Qiao Fangfang, said, "Helin always mentioned that grandma has never seen the sea. He wanted to take grandma to Fangchenggang to see the sea he was guarding." But this small wish ultimately could not be fulfilled.

"Helin is a good child, obedient and filial, and he can endure hardships. Don't be fooled by his thin frame; he always competes to do any work." When talking about Qiao Helin, neighbor Aunt Huang couldn't help but wet her clothes with tears, "I still remember he said he just didn't want grandma to suffer so much."

To the country, he kept his promises and fulfilled his duties; to his family, he felt guilty for breaking his word several times. He had a lover to cherish, family to care for, and ordinary happiness to pursue. But whenever a mission arose, he always rushed to the front without hesitation, putting aside personal feelings and family ties.

The rise and fall of the tides in Pearl Bay tell the story of the hero's steadfastness; the thousands of lights along the coast remember the sacrifices of the martyrs. Looking at the sea he guarded, Qiao Fangfang's eyes were filled with tears, "Helin couldn't wait for his own wedding, but he guarded the reunion of many others."