Nansha Islands and Reefs Travel Articles and Prose

Thousands of miles of stone ponds, thousands of miles of sand, and dreams linger in Zengmu Ansha!

1. Let history tell the world

Southwestern Zhongsha has belonged to China since ancient times. It is the earliest discovered, named, developed, occupied and exercised jurisdiction by the Chinese. In the land of the Lord, there are countless relevant historical records.

As late as the Han Dynasty, the Chinese people discovered the South China Sea Islands. Yang Fu of the Eastern Han Dynasty recorded the Nansha Islands in his "Foreign Objects" and in "The Biography of Funan" written by Kang Tai, a general of Soochow in the Three Kingdoms. In the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhou Qufei's "Lingnan Daida" and Zhao Rushi's "Zhufan Zhi" both called the coral island with Changsha, called the coral lagoon mainly composed of atolls with Shitang, and called "Thousands of miles of Changsha, thousands of miles of stone beds". ", in the vast expanse, the sky and water are the same color" to describe the scenery of the islands in the South China Sea. Historical materials about Nansha during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties became more and more specific and detailed. Wang Dayuan's "Dao Yi Zhi Lue" of the Yuan Dynasty recorded the scope and limits of the South China Sea. The Ming Dynasty was the peak period in the history of navigation in China and the world. The detailed charts drawn by Zheng He's men recorded the locations of the West and Nansha Islands. The "Secretary's Geographical Map" includes the South China Sea Islands (including the Nansha Islands) into China's territory. Hainan local chronicles "Qiongtai Waiji" and "Zhengde Qiongtai Chronicles" also recorded the "Thousands of Miles of Changsha" and "Wanli of Stone Ponds" to which Qiongzhou belongs. There are the Qing Dynasty, 1709, 1724, 1755, 1767, 1810, 1817, "The Map of China and Foreign Countries in the Qing Dynasty", "The Map of the Provinces of the Qing Dynasty", "The Map of the Provinces of the Qing Dynasty", "The Map of the Qing Dynasty" The "Comprehensive Map of the Qing Dynasty's Unification of the World", "The Complete Map of the Qing Dynasty's Unification of the World for Ten Thousand Years", and "The Complete Map of the Qing Dynasty's Unification of the World" all included the Xisha and Nansha Islands in the territory of the Qing Empire. In April 1935, the China Water and Land Map Review Committee compiled and printed the "Map of Islands in the South China Sea", which detailed the names and locations of the above-mentioned islands, reefs, beaches, sandbanks, etc., and followed the concepts of thousands of miles of Changsha and thousands of stone ponds in Chinese historical documents. , clearly stated that the Dongsha, Xisha, Nansha (now Zhongsha), and Tuansha (now Nansha) Islands are islands belonging to our country.

After the end of World War II, the Chinese government at that time sent warships such as Taiping, Yongxing, China Construction, and Zhongye to take over the Zhongsha Islands in the southwest, and named the main island of the Paracel Islands "Yongxing" after the Yongxing ship. The main island of the Nansha Islands was named "Taiping Island" after the name of the Taiping ship, and was erected at the end of the breakwater in the southwest of the island. A stone monument of "Taiping Island" was erected, and another stone monument of "Taiping Island of Nansha Islands" was erected at the east end of the island. In 1947, ***159 names of all islands, reefs and beaches in the South China Sea Islands, including the Nansha Islands, were renamed and announced for implementation.

After the founding of New China, on August 15, 1951, Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai pointed out in the "Statement on the Peace Treaty between the United States and Britain with Japan and the San Francisco Conference": The South China Sea Islands, including the Paracel Islands and the Nansha Islands " Although it was once occupied by the Japanese imperialists when they launched the war of aggression, it was completely taken over by the then Chinese government after Japan surrendered.” On September 4, 1958, the Chinese government issued a statement declaring that the territorial sea was 12 nautical miles wide. It also clearly stated that this provision applies to all Chinese territories, including the Nansha Islands and other islands belonging to China. On September 14, North Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong sent a note to Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai, stating: The Democratic Republic of Vietnam recognizes and agrees with the statement of the Democratic Republic of China on September 4, 1958 on the territorial sea decision. **The Chinese government respects this decision." Since then, in response to foreign infringements on the sovereignty of the Nansha Islands, the Chinese government has continued to issue statements, reiterating that China has inviolable and indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands. In May 1950, The Chinese People's Liberation Army stationed on Woody Island, and in 1959 the Central People's Government established the Southwest Zhongsha Islands Office, which was successively placed under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province and Hainan Province. The Battle of Paracel on January 19, 1974 drove South Vietnam out of the Paracel Islands, and the Paracel Islands were intact. Returning to the embrace of the motherland; in 1987, UNESCO adopted the "Global Joint Sea Level Measurement Plan" and decided to establish 200 marine meteorological observation stations around the world, including five commissioned by the Chinese government.

In accordance with the requirements of the United Nations, in 1988, my country built the Ocean Observation Station No. 74 on Fiery Cross Reef in the Nansha Islands.

2. Five Thousand Miles Road to Yunheyue

Since 2008, due to work needs, I have traveled to many islands and reefs in Hainan: Dazhou Island, Xidao, Wuzhizhou Island , Boundary Island, and even the Xisha Islands, which many people regard as a daunting journey by boat, I have gone there six or seven times by boat. However, I often regret that, as a marine staff, I have never been to the Nansha Islands. On April 1, 2010, the "Sea Island Law of the People's Republic of China" came into effect. In order to implement the "Island Law" and in conjunction with patrols in the South China Sea, the State Oceanic Administration organized the Director of the Coastal Department and the Captain of the Marine Supervision to participate in patrols and law enforcement on the Nansha Islands and Reefs. I finally embarked on the border patrol trip I had been dreaming of!

At 9 a.m. on April 15, 2010, the farewell ceremony for the cruise on Nansha Islands and Reefs was held at Changzhou Wharf of Huangpu Port, Guangzhou. Amid cheers and warnings, China Maritime Surveillance Ships 83 (carrying China Maritime Surveillance B-7112 aircraft) and 81 ships sailed out of the port with their whistles honking and headed for the distant Nansha Islands. The journey from Huangpu Port was uneventful, with everyone laughing and joking. People were in small groups on the deck and on the helicopter pad, some talking loudly and some whispering. They were completely unprepared for the coming storm.

After the boat left the Wanshan Islands, the barrier to protect against wind and rain was gone. The cold current from the north immediately showed its powerful power. In an instant, the sea was violently windy and rainy, and the waves were turbulent. The waves were so high that they covered the sky. On the day, hit the bow of the ship directly. Although the Haijian 83 ship is my country's most advanced law enforcement ship and is equipped with an anti-rolling system, the ship still pitches forward and sways left and right. Some of the people looked like they were drunk, and some looked like they were having a drunken fistfight. The captain told everyone not to stand, but to go back and lie on the bed immediately, which would be better. Among the group of people, I was considered good. Although I was a little dizzy, I didn't vomit. Lying on the bed, I was thrown to the left and right again. I fell into a drowsy sleep. I slept until 6:30 on the 16th. In the morning, I went out to the helipad to exercise. There is a huge platform of more than 200 square meters. , empty, only myself spinning in circles. There were only a handful of people there when we had breakfast at half past seven. I asked several comrades, and they all said that they vomited five or six times in one night, and all the bile came out. It is said that the feeling of dizziness is like a grindstone, shaking the head and stomach in circles, making people indescribably sad. On the 17th, the cold current heading north finally gave way, and I was noticeably less shaken when I went to bed in the second half of the night. On the morning of the 18th, I still went to the helipad to exercise on time. Although I was still alone, I could clearly feel that the frequency of the ship moving higher to the left and lowering to the right was much less frequent, and the inclination was not that big, and it was not so bumpy. There are obviously more people eating breakfast. The most common thing everyone says is, come to life!

At around 9:20 a.m. on the 18th, the broadcast announced: "Scarborough Shoal has arrived. Scarborough Shoal has arrived. Please go to the deck and observe! Please go to the deck and observe!" We swarmed out and headed straight for deck. I saw waves surrounding a 130-square-kilometer lagoon with rippling blue waves. The water inside the lagoon is 10-20 meters deep, crystal clear, and crystal clear; the water outside the lagoon is dark blue, deep blue, not much lighter than blue ink, but not deep. According to measurements, it is said to be 3-4 kilometers deep. Dozens of fishing boats, large and small, are operating in the lagoon, and it is difficult to tell which country the fishing boats are from with the naked eye. Li Lixin, the commander-in-chief of the formation, used a telescope to look around, then handed the telescope to me and said, "Old Zhao, this is your Hainan fishing boat." He patrols and enforces laws in the South China Sea all year round and is very familiar with ships from various countries. I took the mirror and looked over. The large fishing boats traveling in the wind and waves had the five-star red flag floating faintly, while the small fishing boats were like small boats, rising and falling.

At three o'clock in the afternoon on the 18th, the headquarters informed: Mischief Reef has arrived! I shouted to comrades, hurry up! quick! Go see Mischief Reef! Several comrades teased me and said: "Old Zhao is so excited!" I replied: "Of course! There are not only fishermen we fish here, but also fishermen who breed fish. They guard the sea and guard the border, cultivate the sea and herd fish. This is the latest contribution of our Hainan fishermen to defend national sovereignty and safeguard maritime rights and interests."

Mischief Reef is located at 9 degrees 54 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and 115 degrees 32 minutes 00 seconds east longitude. It is an oval-shaped coral atoll. The seawater surrounded by the atoll forms a lagoon with an area of ??about 36 square kilometers and a water depth of 20 meters~ 30 meters. Not far from the lagoon reef, the water depth reaches thousands of meters. Mischief Reef is not only a natural marine pasture and a natural haven, but also has extremely important strategic value. I looked at the wide lagoon, the tall buildings on the north and south reefs, the fishery administration boat on duty parked next to it, and several cruising fishing boats, and I felt so happy! Although I can't see anyone, I know that there are our fellow Lingao folks here who are raising fish in deep-water cages. Unfortunately, I can't contact them, so I can only extend my heartfelt respect and sincere greetings to them from a distance. !

Condolences to our country’s officers and soldiers stationed on the Zhongsha Islands in southwest China are one of the important contents of our cruise. The cruise formation passed through the Nankang Shoal, Beikang Shoal and Huayang Reef, my country's southernmost outpost, and arrived at Yongshu Reef, my country's southernmost ocean observation station and the southernmost patrol area, at 10:20 a.m. on the 21st. As soon as the ship anchored at the anchorage, we received a message of condolences from the officers and soldiers stationed on the reef. At this time, we were loading vegetables, fruits and other items onto the helicopter, preparing to transport these condolences to Fiery Cross Reef to give to the loveliest people. It took three flights before all the items were delivered.

At around 9 a.m. on the 23rd, the formation arrived at Chenhang Island in the Paracel Islands. After delivering vegetables and fruits to the officers and soldiers stationed on the island, we made a special trip to the Xisha Naval War Martyrs Memorial Cemetery to pay tribute to the 18 soldiers who fought to safeguard the motherland. Sovereignty is intact, and we pay tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives!

3. When developing Nansha, fishery comes first

Hainan people, especially Hainan fishermen, have been the main force in developing Nansha since ancient times. They farmed the sea, herded fisheries, fished and caught shrimps in the Nansha Islands, maintaining their livelihoods from generation to generation. The footprints they left behind in their production and life and the summary of their production experience not only became historical relics and cultural relics, but also proved that the Nansha Islands have existed since ancient times. This is the most powerful evidence of China’s territory. In 1977, during investigations in Wenchang and Qionghai, relevant experts discovered four "Modern Route Books" of Hainan fishermen sailing in the South China Sea. These "Genglubu" are copies passed down from generation to generation by fishermen. It records the navigation pin positions and numbers of voyages from Qinglan Port in Wenchang in eastern Hainan and Tanmen Port in Qionghai to various parts of Southeast Asia, especially to the Xisha and Nansha Islands, and between the islands and reefs of the Xisha Islands (i.e. Course and voyage. In the past, when fishermen went out to sea to light incense sticks, they would calculate the number of incense sticks, usually based on the wind, and one watch would be 10 nautical miles). It records 33 traditional place names commonly used by fishermen on the Xisha Islands and 72 traditional place names commonly used on the Nansha Islands.

On many islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands, temples built by fishermen from Qionghai and Wenchang in Hainan, wells dug, coconut trees planted, graves where deceased relatives were buried, and items left behind have been left behind. The archaeological results of Professor Wang Hengjie of the former Minzu University of China fully prove this point. In June 1992, Professor Wang Hengjie went to the Nansha Islands for the first time for archeology. During a month-long investigation, he discovered a number of precious cultural relics from the Qin and Han Dynasties: embossed hard pottery pieces, glazed pottery pieces, celadon pieces, blue and white porcelain pieces, and " "Five Baht", "Xining Chongbao", "Jiaqing Tongbao", "Daoguang Tongbao", "Xianfeng Tongbao" and other copper coins, and an iron anchor. In May 1994, Professor Wang Hengjie discovered a batch of important ancient Chinese relics on the sandbank between Nanxun Reef and Hongxiu Island, including Kaiyuan Tongbao from the Tang Dynasty, porcelain fragments from the Song Dynasty, and blue and white porcelain fragments from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Among them, Song and Yuan white porcelain and Kaiyuan Tongbao with Yangwen Chinese characters were unearthed in the Nansha Islands for the first time.

Since the reform and opening up, especially since the establishment of Hainan Province, Hainan fishermen have made new contributions to the development of Nansha Islands, but also paid a huge price. Starting from the second half of 2007, the Lingao Zeye Company in Lingao County, Hainan Province organized fishermen to put cages on Mischief Reef for fish farming and fishing production. Due to superior breeding conditions such as temperature and water quality, it is more suitable for high-density cage farming of tropical and subtropical fish species, and the cultured fish species grow relatively quickly. They use the abundant low-value fish caught in Nansha as their main feed to breed high-value fish, and the breeding profits are good. But unfortunately, just after it started, it encountered Typhoon Hagibis and nine fishermen died in the South China Sea.

Although they suffered such a huge setback, they did not regret or waver. They wiped away their tears and continued to work hard. There have been good returns in the past two years.