Video | National Day Holiday: Navy Fleet Stands Firm in Position to Safeguard International Shipping Lane Security

This holiday, some people do not take a break, production continues, while others remain at their posts, guarding safety. During the National Day festival, the 49th escort task force of the Navy, which is carrying out escort missions in distant seas, held a special flag-raising ceremony. The five-star red flag rose above the deep blue ocean, and the escort officers and soldiers stood firm at their posts, safeguarding the safety of international shipping lanes with loyalty and responsibility.

The flag was raised by Zhou Zixuan, the signal class leader of the Kunming ship. After nine years of service, this was her first time participating in an escort mission and her first time taking part in a flag-raising ceremony overseas.

In addition to being responsible for raising the flag and hoisting signal flags, Zhou Zixuan also bears the responsibility of daily external communication. During the escort mission, she frequently communicates with the vessels under protection; her voice provides a sense of security, and her confidence stems from the determination of her comrades behind her, who are all in position and committed to safeguarding the safety of international shipping lanes without retreat.

If the signal soldiers are the window for external communication, then the special forces are the iron fist protecting merchant ships. They are the backbone of the escort task force in counter-terrorism and anti-piracy operations. Special forces member Fu Chuangchuang is also participating in escort operations at sea for the first time. In the shimmering waters of the Gulf of Aden, the Chinese Navy escort task force continuously stands guard over this area, protecting every passing merchant ship.

Special Forces Member Fu Chuangchuang: Since the start of the escort mission, my comrades and I have focused on the actual tasks at hand, concentrating on counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, and the core capabilities required for armed rescue. We use the distant seas as a training platform, conducting various targeted training and specialized exercises, while always maintaining a high state of alert to ensure we can respond quickly and effectively to any emergencies.

Lookout Qin Chenyang just finished a drill and hurried to the bridge for duty. In the vast ocean, even the most advanced radar equipment has blind spots, but with the close cooperation between lookouts and radar operators, we can ensure that there are no dead angles in the detection range.

Navy Ship Yueyang Lookout Qin Chenyang: Our lookout duties are basically part-time; in addition to doing our own jobs well, we need to cooperate with each other and share this responsibility. Sometimes we need to work continuously, and the lookout's duty requires us to maintain a high level of concentration.

The lookout's job may seem simple—“stand, watch, report” repeatedly. No matter how rough the seas are, they must stand at their posts for three to four hours at a time, focused and not missing any suspicious targets on the water. Fishing nets, floating logs, suspicious small boats... every discovery could relate to the safety of the entire sea area. And in this deep blue, what Qin Chenyang looks forward to and pays the most attention to while on lookout duty is the vessels flying the Chinese flag.

Qin Chenyang: On the first day of my watch, the class leader told me that the lookout's eyes should shine with light, and our hearts should be tuned in, always keeping an eye on the sea surface to ensure safe navigation. This is my first time participating in an escort mission, and my first time spending National Day overseas. My mom sent me a message yesterday saying everything is fine at home and told me to take care of myself and do a good job on the escort mission. Watching the escorted vessels safely pass through the Gulf of Aden, I feel that no matter how tough or tiring it is, it is worth it.

The signal soldiers raising the flag, the special forces on duty, the sailors on lookout... on this National Day, every position in the escort task force is paying tribute to the motherland in their own way. They integrate their love for the country into every flag signal, every duty, and every report. On the distant seas, that vibrant shade of Chinese red is the most solid spiritual coordinate in the hearts of the officers and soldiers.