A 'typical' day on duty for China Coast Guard officers at China's Huangyan Dao

中国海警官员在中国黄岩岛执勤的“典型”一天

Photo: Courtesy of China Coast Guard

照片：中国海警局提供

Editor's Note: What defines the ordinary? And what makes it great? For the China Coast Guard (CCG) officers stationed at Huangyan Dao, the ordinary lies in their quiet, steadfast watch; the greatness lies in the mission and responsibility they shoulder. These heroes guarding the nation's maritime borders hail from all corners of the country. They are husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers—playing the same familial roles and bearing the same emotional ties as any of us. Yet they are also extraordinary. They have aligned the course of their lives with the defense of the nation's maritime frontiers, sacrificing their "small self" to serve the "greater self."

编者按：何为平凡？又何谓伟大？对于驻守黄岩岛的中国海警官兵而言，平凡在于日复一日的默默坚守，伟大则在于他们肩负的使命与责任。这些守护祖国海疆的英雄来自五湖四海，是丈夫、是父亲、是儿子、是兄弟——与你我承担着相同的家庭角色，拥有同样的情感羁绊。但他们又是非凡的——将人生航向与捍卫祖国海疆的轨迹重合，以"小我"的奉献成就"大我"的担当。

Recently, the Global Times spoke with Gaolan formation under the third bureau directly subordinated to the CCG. They spoke with those from the Gaolan, Wanshan, and Hebao vessels about their daily lives and service in what they call the "ancestral sea." Amid the vast blue skies and seas at the southernmost tip of the motherland, and in the face of storms, solitude, and longing for home, these officers have forged with their passion and loyalty an invisible "Great Wall at sea."

近日，《环球时报》与CCG直属三局旗下的皋兰组进行了对话。他们与皋兰号、万山号和荷宝号的人谈论他们在他们所谓的“祖海”的日常生活和服务。在祖国最南端的广阔蓝天和大海中，在风雨、孤独、思乡的面前，这些军官用激情和忠诚铸就了一道无形的“海上长城”。

Photo: Courtesy of China Coast Guard

照片：中国海警局提供

Gaolan Vessel：On azure sea, the national border lives in heart of every coast guard law enforcement officer

皋兰舰：蔚蓝大海上，国境住在每一位海警执法人员的心中

China Coast Guard law enforcement officer Wang Zongtie aboard the Gaolan awoke promptly at 6:30 am . He looked out from his cabin window: a fiery red sun rose above the sea horizon, casting a shimmering golden hue over the rolling waves. He wasn't admiring the sunrise over the waters near Huangyan Dao but, as a result of years of professional habit, was observing sea conditions and monitoring nearby passing vessels.

清晨6点30分，皋兰号上的中国海警执法人员王宗铁及时醒来。他从船舱的窗户向外望去：一轮火红的太阳从地平线上升起，在翻滚的海浪上投下一层闪闪发光的金色。他不是在欣赏黄岩岛附近海域的日出，而是根据多年的职业习惯，观察海况，监视附近过往的船只。

After washing up and straightening his uniform, the lean officer conducted a full inspection of the ship—from the bridge, known as the ship's "brain," to the engine room, the "heart," and onward to the fore and aft decks and the galley.

清洗并整理好制服后，精干的军官对这艘船进行了全面检查——从被称为船的“大脑”的驾驶台，到“心脏”的机舱，再到前后甲板和厨房。

Since the establishment of the third bureau directly subordinated to the CCG in 2019, the Gaolan vessel has actively carried out its mission of rights protection and law enforcement, guarding the maritime frontiers. It has participated in operations such as stationing at islands and reefs like Huangyan Dao, regional fisheries enforcement, offshore oil and gas platform inspections, and maritime rescue missions.

自2019年CCG直属三局成立以来，高栏舰积极履行维权执法使命，守护海上边疆。先后参加了黄岩岛等岛礁驻守、区域渔业执法、海上油气平台巡查、海上救援任务等行动。

On the Gaolan, officer Wang Zongtie, born after 1975, is considered a legend. Whenever he is mentioned, fellow officers stand tall and speak with reverence: "He's a true hero—brave and wise!" In 2014, Wang was honored with the title of national hero for defending the border due to his outstanding performance in China's border and coastal defense work.

在皋兰号上，1975年后出生的军官王宗铁被认为是一个传奇。每当提到他，战友们都会昂首挺胸，满怀崇敬地说：“他是一个真正的英雄——勇敢而睿智！”2014年，王因在我国边海防工作中表现突出，被授予保卫边疆民族英雄称号。

Photo: Courtesy of China Coast Guard

照片：中国海警局提供

But Wang is not the only hero on board. Many of the Gaolan's unsung heroes deeply impress the younger generation of Coast Guard law enforcement officers. Among them is 54-year-old Chen Hongmao, who was transferred from China's former fisheries administration system. He joined in 1994, tasked with offshore duties to safeguard islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Over the past 31 years, he has spent most of his time at sea—a true veteran "guardian of the sea." From his early days vomiting at sea while working, he has transformed into "Uncle Mao," a respected figure among the crew.

然而，王宗铁并非船上唯一的英雄。高栏舰上还有许多默默无闻的楷模，深深影响着年轻一代海警执法人员。54岁的陈鸿茂便是其中之一，他从中国原渔业执法系统转隶而来，自1994年加入后便肩负起南海岛礁海上维权使命。31年来，他有大半时间在海上度过，是名副其实的"老守海人"。从初出海时吐得昏天黑地的青涩小伙，到如今被全船尊称为"毛叔"的定海神针，陈洪毛用半生坚守诠释了何为沧海横流显本色。

"In the late 1990s, foreign aircraft flew over our heads almost every day. Sometimes we wished we had a bamboo pole to swat them down! However, we have our own shipborne drones now. It won't be long before they can fly around Huangyan Dao." Chen recalls his early days on reef duty with emotion. "Back then, our fisheries administration ships were small and had no water purifiers. Freshwater was rationed, and when it rained, the whole crew rushed onto the deck to collect rainwater—for bathing, laundry, and everything else."

“上世纪90年代末，几乎每天都有外国飞机从我们头顶飞过，有时我们恨不得有一根竹竿把它们拍下来！不过，我们现在有了自己的舰载无人机，用不了多久，它们就能绕着黄岩岛飞一圈了。”陈回忆起早年在礁石执勤的日子，感慨万千。“那时候，我们渔政船小，没有净水器。淡水实行定量配给，一下雨，全体船员就冲到甲板上收集雨水——洗澡、洗衣，什么都可以。”

In the vast expanse of the sea, generation after generation of "guardians of the sea" have dedicated their youth to the azure waters at the southernmost frontiers of the motherland.

在茫茫大海中，一代又一代“海洋卫士”把青春献给了祖国最南端边疆蔚蓝的海水。

Wen Mujian was among the first Coast Guard law enforcement officers aboard the Gaolan in 2019. He got married last year. He mentioned his new wife with a smile, saying, "When we were dating, I dreaded having an argument before heading to sea—it would ruin the entire trip. Now, when I go on missions, she's no longer worried as before. She tells me that when we're defending Huangyan Dao, the Party and the country are our strongest support."

文木建是2019年第一批登上皋兰号的海警执法人员之一。他去年结婚了。他笑着说起新婚妻子：“我们交往的时候，出海前我最怕吵架，会毁了整个行程。现在我出任务，她也不像以前那么担心了，她告诉我，保卫黄岩岛，党和国家是我们最坚强的后盾。”

As the sun fully rises into the sky and two seagulls soar above the white wake carved by the Gaolan cutting through the sea, Wang gazes toward Huangyan Dao, his eyes are sharp and resolute: "There may be no visible national border gate at sea, but that border gate lives in the heart of every coast guard law enforcement officer."

当太阳完全升上天空，两只海鸥翱翔在高栏划破海面的白色尾流之上时，王望向黄岩岛，目光锐利而坚定：“海上或许没有看得见的国门，但那国门却活在每一位海警执法人员的心中。”

Photo: Courtesy of China Coast Guard

照片：中国海警局提供

Wanshan Vessel: devoting limited life to an unlimited coast guard career

万山舰：把有限的生命奉献给无限的海警事业

At noon, Coast Guard law enforcement officer Qiu Canhui from the CCG vessel the Wanshan arrived at the stern deck to begin the routine patrol duties . Not far away, the reefs of Huangyan Dao sparkled.

中午时分，CCG船“万山”号的海警执法人员邱灿辉抵达船尾甲板，开始例行巡逻执勤。不远处，黄岩道暗礁闪闪发光。

Qiu told the Global Times that what excited him most was patrolling the waters around Huangyan Dao in a law enforcement vessel. The waves created by the boat on the azure sea looked like a white dragon, with the surrounding seawater in a dreamy blue-green color, crystal clear to the bottom, and the dark shadows were the reefs.

邱告诉《环球时报》，最让他兴奋的是乘坐执法船在黄岩岛周边海域巡逻。小船在蔚蓝的海面上掀起的波浪，像是一条白龙，周围的海水是梦幻般的蓝绿色，晶莹剔透，黑影中是礁石。

The 27-year-old Coast Guard officer said, "Over the past two years, the ecological environment of Huangyan Dao has recovered well. During low tide, you can see schools of fish, corals, and giant clams."

这位27岁的海警说，“两年多来，黄岩岛生态环境恢复良好，退潮时可以看到成群的鱼、珊瑚、巨型蛤蜊。”

"If I hadn't joined the CCG, I would never have had the chance to witness such magnificent seas," Chen Donghua, a youth from the Yi ethnic group in the Daliang Mountains of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, is equally awed by the vast beauty of the South China Sea. In his native language of Yi ethnic group, his name is Jike Donghua, and he happens to be a cousin of popular singer Jike Junyi.

“如果我没有加入CCG，我永远不会有机会目睹如此壮丽的海洋，”来自中国西南部四川省大凉山的彝族青年陈东华同样对南海的广阔美景感到敬畏。在彝族的母语中，他叫吉克东华，恰好是当红歌手吉克隽逸的表弟。

From a young age, Chen dreamed of defending China's frontiers. Four years ago, he resolutely joined the CCG and has since experienced many personal firsts: his first voyage, his first bout of seasickness, and his first glimpse of Huangyan Dao.

陈从小就梦想保卫中国的边疆。4年前，他毅然加入CCG，此后经历了许多个人第一次：第一次出航、第一次晕船、第一次瞥见黄岩岛。

Photo: Courtesy of China Coast Guard

照片：中国海警局提供

"I crossed 'thousands of mountains and waded through countless rivers' to get from the Daliang Mountains to Huangyan Dao," he said. Although he only returned home last year for the Yi ethnic group's traditional New Year—the first time in four years—he remains proud of his service. "One family's reunion may be missed, but it brings peace to thousands of others."When he showed his family photos of the sunrises and sunsets over Huangyan Dao, they were genuinely proud of him.

他说：“从大凉山到黄岩岛，我翻越了‘万水千山’。”尽管他去年才回家过彝族传统的新年——这是四年来的第一次——但他仍然为自己的服务感到自豪。“可能错过一个家庭的团聚，但它带来了成千上万的其他人。”当他展示他的家庭照片时，黄岩岛的日出和日落时，他们真的为他感到骄傲。

At present, the mission of the Coast Guard law enforcement officers on board the Wanshan vessel is to exercise routine jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao, safeguarding the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Since the promulgation of the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent of Huangyan Dao in November last year, the third bureau of the CCG has intensified its patrol and vigilance in the territorial sea of Huangyan Dao and its surrounding waters. In just the first quarter of this year, except for the necessary shore visits for resupply, the Wanshan vessel has been at sea almost continuously.

目前，万山舰上海警执法人员的任务是对黄岩岛进行例行管辖，维护国家领土主权和海洋权益。自去年11月《黄岩岛邻近领海基线》颁布以来，海监三局加大了在黄岩岛领海及周边海域的巡逻警戒力度。仅今年一季度，万山舰除了必要的上岸补给外，几乎是连续出海。

Far from land and with limited supplies, the Wanshan vessel undertakes duty missions that can last for dozens of days, battling wind and waves while also enduring the "triple-high" environment of high temperature, high salinity, and high humidity. In addition, there are no signal base stations near Huangyan Dao, so the Coast Guard officers can only rely on satellite phones to communicate with the outside world.

远离陆地、物资有限，万山舰承担着长达数十天的执勤任务，战风浪的同时还要忍受高温、高盐、高湿的“三高”环境。此外，黄岩岛附近没有信号基站，海警官兵只能依靠卫星电话与外界联系。

They have to overcome the sense of being "cut off from the world." To this end, officer Zhou Haiyan and Zhou's colleagues have designed a badminton court that is "scaled down proportionally." During breaks, this small badminton court is packed with Coast Guard officers eager to show off their skills.

他们必须克服“与世隔绝”的感觉。为此，周海燕警官和周的同事们设计了一个“按比例缩小”的羽毛球场。休息时，这个小小的羽毛球场挤满了渴望一展身手的海岸警卫队军官。

The Wanshan vessel is equipped with a library, a gym, a video editing studio, and other facilities. Qiu has become versatile on the Wanshan. He is passionate about photography and has taught himself photo editing and video editing skills. Qiu participated in the drone operation training organized by the Coast Guard, becoming one of the vessel's first certified drone pilots.

万山舰配备了图书馆、健身房、视频剪辑室等设施。秋在万山上变得多才多艺。他热爱摄影，自学了照片编辑和视频编辑技能。邱参加了海岸警卫队组织的无人机操作培训，成为该船首批获得认证的无人机飞行员之一。

Qiu then successively trained four or five "apprentices," and thus the drone pilot team on the Wanshan vessel expanded. Qiu said that drones can not only assist in reconnaissance of maritime and land situations but also provide video evidence. For the Wanshan vessel to carry out routine law enforcement patrols, drones are like adding wings to a tiger.

随后，邱先后培养了四五个“徒弟”，万山舰的无人机飞行员队伍由此壮大。邱说，无人机不仅可以协助侦察海上和陆地情况，还可以提供视频证据。对于万山舰开展例行执法巡逻，无人机犹如如虎添翼。

Amidst the flow of the waves, the Coast Guard officers on the Wanshan vessel steadfastly stand their ground at the southernmost end of the motherland, day in and day out, yet never feel bored or weary. Zhou, who has a deep understanding of this, said, "For us, dedicating our finite lives to the infinite Coast Guard undertaking is the ultimate happiness!"

在波涛汹涌中，万山舰上的海警官兵坚守在祖国的最南端，日复一日，却从不感到无聊和疲惫。对此深有体会的周某说，“对我们来说，把有限的生命奉献给无限的海警事业，就是最大的幸福！”

Hebao Vessel: territorial sea baseline of Huangyan Dao provides stronger legal support for law enforcement

和宝船：黄岩岛领海基线为执法提供更有力的法律支撑

As it was approaching 6 pm, the setting sun bathed the horizon in a warm red glow, while waves nearly three meters high crashed relentlessly against the hull of the Hebao Coast Guard vessel. Despite the constant jolting, officer Gao Feng remained focused on the bridge, issuing bilingual warnings—in Chinese and English—to a nearby foreign vessel.

临近下午6点，夕阳将地平线沐浴在温暖的红光中，而近三米高的海浪无情地撞击着河保海警船的船体。尽管颠簸不断，高峰警官仍然专注于舰桥，向附近的一艘外国船只发出中英文双语警告。

"This is the China Coast Guard. Your vessel has entered the contiguous zone of Huangyan Dao, the People's Republic of China. Please comply with relevant international conventions and Chinese laws and regulations. Navigate in accordance with the law."

“这里是中国海警局，你船已进入中华人民共和国黄岩岛毗连区，请遵守有关国际公约和中国法律法规，依法航行。”

Only after the foreign vessel moved away did Gao finally breathe a sigh of relief—though he quickly refocused and returned to his duties. He noted that such close-range standoffs occur almost daily. Even at night, he rarely gets deep sleep, often waking to check the navigation repeater in his cabin to monitor the ship's current position, heading, and speed.

直到外籍船只驶离后，高警官才稍稍松了口气——但他很快重新绷紧神经，继续投入执勤。他透露，这类近距离对峙几乎每天都在上演。即便深夜，他也鲜有熟睡，常常惊醒查看舱室内的导航复示器，实时监控舰船位置、航向与速度。

The Hebao is a relatively small vessel with high maneuverability, serving as the "first line of defense" in law enforcement operations around Huangyan Dao. According to Gao, the responsibilities of Hebao's Coast Guard officers are immense—not only must they confront foreign vessels attempting to intrude upon Huangyan Dao waters "face-to-face", but they are also tasked with combating maritime crimes such as drug trafficking and smuggling.

和宝号是一艘相对较小的船只，机动性很强，在黄岩岛周边执法行动中充当“第一道防线”。据高说，河堡海岸警卫队官员的责任是巨大的——他们不仅要“面对面”对抗试图闯入黄岩岛水域的外国船只，而且还要打击贩毒和走私等海上犯罪。

Sailing is inherently risky—especially for the Hebao, which regularly carries out high-stakes missions such as tracking and surveillance, route control, and boarding inspections. "Our crew has two defining traits: youth and resilience," Gao said. "Most of the Hebao's officers were born after 1995 or even 2000. These young people channel their deep patriotism to overcome the hardships of life at sea, year-round."

航行本来就有风险——尤其是对于“和宝”号来说，它定期执行跟踪监视、航线控制、登船检查等高风险任务。“我们的船员有两个决定性特征：年轻和韧性，”高说。“和宝的军官大多是95后甚至00后出生，这些年轻人把深厚的爱国情怀引向克服海上生活的艰辛，一年到头。”

The crashing waves bear silent witness to the unwavering dedication of Coast Guard officers, while the territorial sea baseline of Huangyan Dao stands as an invisible "maritime frontline." Officer Wu Jiaxu explained that in the face of foreign intrusions, the CCG consistently enforces the law in accordance with regulations. The annoucement of the territorial sea baseline around Huangyan Dao last year, he noted, has provided stronger legal backing. "It enables us to respond more proactively to all kinds of unexpected situations at sea," he said.

惊涛骇浪无声记录着海警官兵的坚守，黄岩岛领海基线则化作一道无形的“海上前线”。吴家绪警官解释，面对外来入侵，CCG一贯按照规定执法。他指出，去年黄岩岛周边领海基线的公布提供了更有力的法律支持。“它使我们能够更主动地应对海上的各种突发情况，”他说。

Photo: Courtesy of China Coast Guard

照片：中国海警局提供

Chinese fishermen: Seeing the Coast Guard out there 'like seeing our own brothers'

中国渔民：看到海岸警卫队在那里“就像看到我们自己的兄弟”

Huangyan Dao is part of the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea, spanning about 150 square kilometers. It has the shape of an isosceles right triangle, with elevated reefs surrounding a sunken center, forming a natural lagoon. At high tide, only a few bare rocks are visible above the sea surface; however, beneath the waves, the island rises from the deep seabed—over 3,000 meters below—like a "stabilizing pillar of the sea." This reef is an inherent part of China's territory. The surrounding waters are not only rich in valuable fishery resources but also contain abundant oil and gas reserves, mineral deposits, and renewable energy sources.

黄岩岛隶属中国中沙群岛，海域面积约150平方公里，呈等腰直角三角形地貌。其礁盘外缘隆起而中部凹陷，形成天然潟湖。涨潮时仅有零星礁石露出海面，；然而，在海浪之下，这座岛屿从3000多米以下的深海海底升起，就像“海洋的稳定支柱”。该礁是中国领土的固有组成部分。周边海域不仅拥有丰富的宝贵渔业资源，还蕴藏着丰富的油气储量、矿藏和可再生能源。

The reefs of Huangyan Dao form a complete ecosystem, with the central lagoon playing a crucial role. Its shallow waters and warm temperatures create ideal conditions for the growth of plankton, attracting small fish in search of food, which in turn draw in larger predatory fish. Since ancient times, Huangyan Dao has been a "blessed land" for Chinese fishermen, providing a vital source of livelihood. Common commercial species in the area include grouper, eel, and sea bream.

黄岩岛的礁石群与中央潟湖构成了完整的生态系统，其中潟湖发挥着关键作用。这里水浅温高，为浮游生物的生长提供了理想条件，吸引小鱼前来觅食，进而引来大型掠食性鱼类。自古以来，黄岩岛就是中国渔民的"福地"，为他们提供了重要的生计来源。该地区常见的经济鱼类包括石斑鱼、鳗鱼和鲷鱼等。

Huang Yawen, a 63-year-old captain from Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong Province, has made a living from fishing since the 1980s. Over the past four decades, he has sailed across the South China Sea and waters throughout Southeast Asia, yet he remains especially fond of Huangyan Dao. With graying hair and years of sea experience, the veteran captain still insists that the fish from Huangyan Dao are "the most delicious."

来自中国广东省湛江市的63岁船长黄亚文，自上世纪80年代起便以捕鱼为生。过去四十年来，他的航迹遍及南海和东南亚各地海域，但他对黄岩岛始终情有独钟。这位鬓发斑白的老船长凭着多年海上经验依然坚持认为，黄岩岛的鱼"最鲜美"。

Huang recalled that around 2010, some foreign fishing vessels intruded into the waters around Huangyan Dao. They not only plundered resources through destructive and illegal methods such as poisoning, electrofishing, and blast fishing—causing severe damage to the marine ecosystem—but also harassed Chinese fishermen. "Things have improved a lot in recent years. With the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard, foreign boats no longer dare to come near! Especially since last November, if you look around Huangyan Dao, you'll only see Chinese fishing boats."

黄亚文回忆道，大约在2010年前后，一些外国渔船侵入黄岩岛周边海域。他们不仅通过投毒、电捕、炸鱼等破坏性非法手段掠夺资源，对海洋生态造成严重破坏，还时常骚扰中国渔民。"这几年情况好转多了。有中国海警在，外国船只根本不敢靠近！特别是去年11月之后，你在黄岩岛四周看看，能见到的全是中国渔船。"

Speaking of the Chinese Coast Guard, Huang's tone grew noticeably warm. "We stay at sea for long periods, often fishing near Huangyan Dao for two or three months at a time. Seeing the Coast Guard out there is like seeing our own brothers."

当话题转向中国海警时，渔民老黄的语调明显温暖起来："我每次出海两三个月，在海上看到海警就像见到自家兄弟。"

The fishing community is generally older, and years of exposure to harsh sea conditions often take a toll on their health. Doctors aboard China Coast Guard vessels provide free medical consultations and deliver medicine to fishermen. In early March this year, Liu Yunhuang, the onboard doctor of the Wanshan ship, along with medic Zhang Liang, formed part of a "mobile maritime medical team." They took enforcement boats out to working fishing vessels to treat fishermen suffering from gout and swollen lymph nodes on the right side of the face and jaw.

渔业社区通常年龄较大，多年暴露在恶劣的海况下往往会损害他们的健康。中国海警船上的医生为渔民提供免费医疗咨询和送药。今年3月初，万山舰随舰医生刘云煌与军医张亮一起，组成了“海上机动医疗队”。他们将执法船带到作业渔船上，为患有痛风和右侧面部和下巴淋巴结肿大的渔民进行治疗。

Looking to the future of Huangyan Dao, Coast Guard officers express hopeful visions. A poem titled A New Dream of Huangyan, written by officer Wang Zongtie, has circulated widely aboard the Gaolan:

展望黄岩岛的未来，海警官兵表达了充满希望的愿景。军官王宗铁写的一首名为《黄岩新梦》的诗，在皋兰号上广为流传：

A thousand-year-old reef hangs beyond the sea,

千年礁石悬海，

A new harbor town appears in dreams to be.

一个新的海港城镇出现在梦里。

Ask not how many springs guard these shores,

莫问清泉几许护岸堤

Huangyan's old fishermen now smile once more.

黄岩的老渔民又再次露出了笑容。