Taking to the high seas anew

On Oct 1, as the first rays of sunlight touched China's Nansha Islands, a fleet primarily comprising cadets from the Naval University of Engineering (NUE) held a flag-raising ceremony in the South China Sea to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Over 1,300 cadets and crew of the PLA Navy Task Group 83 stood in neat rows on the decks of ships Qi Jiguang and Jing Gangshan as they raised the national flag and sang the national anthem.

The fleet then held a soldiers' oath renewal ceremony, where participants signed a banner, expressing their firm commitment to the country.

On the morning of Sept 28, over 1,300 cadets and officers from NUE set sail from Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong province, for an offshore training and visit mission.

The task group traveled through the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, visiting Malaysia and Bangladesh, and is scheduled to dock in Singapore before returning to China.

The cadets engaged in exchanges and cooperation with the navies and locals of the host countries, contributing to building a maritime community with a shared future.

Shen Xudong, a 23-year-old junior from Anyang, Central China's Henan province, delivered a speech at the National Day ceremony, representing his fellow cadets. Standing before the vast sea and his peers, all brimming with high morale, he felt a profound sense of national pride.

This voyage marks NUE's exploration of a new model for offshore training. Students participated, engaging in practical exercises alongside the ships' crews and gaining valuable hands-on experience.

According to Shen, the Qi Jiguang is known as a "floating university at sea", equipped with advanced teaching facilities and classrooms. It also features cadet dining halls, recreation rooms, and gyms. The crew members are also more experienced in teaching than those on regular ships, helping cadets learn more efficiently.

Dou Shiyu, a 24-year-old student specializing in data link engineering and command from Zhengzhou, Henan, recalled her experience standing watch with the crew. They observed how power equipment was fueled and jetted in the engine room and monitored sea conditions and radar signals from the bridge.

"Previously, our courses on land were more theoretical, but now, as I operate the equipment on the ship, I truly understand the principles," she said. "The crew also shares practical experiences with us. For example, they explain what certain floating objects at sea are and how to adjust angles to avoid collisions."

"Training in skills closely related to our future roles is new but essential for us," Shen said.

International exchange and cooperation were also key objectives of this voyage. During stops in Malaysia and Bangladesh, the fleet hosted various events, including open ship days, deck receptions, and Chinese city promotions. Host navy officers, local citizens, and overseas Chinese were invited aboard to participate in these activities.

"The deck reception is a good opportunity for exchanges, which not only shows the traditional Chinese culture, but also shows the enterprising spirit of naval cadets," Shen said.

In addition, Dou performed two dances with Chinese characteristics at the deck reception, showing the harmony among China's multiethnic groups as well as the combination of traditional Chinese culture and modern trends, presenting China's warm and friendly image to other countries.

The naval cadets also visited a Chinese-language school in Malaysia and a naval academy in Bangladesh, where they engaged in friendly basketball and table tennis matches.

Liu Dingyuan, a 20-year-old information security student from Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, was a member of the foreign affairs team during this trip, providing bilingual tours during the open ship days.

"I needed to give an English presentation to Malaysian military cadets and officers with only one day to prepare. Although I was nervous, I wanted to showcase the demeanor of a Chinese soldier and highlight our nation's grace, so I dedicated myself fully to the preparation. In the end, I delivered the presentation fluently," she said.

"Our younger generation of naval cadets, including myself, is driven by passion and motivation. The Chinese Navy is my home, and I'm dedicated to embracing this responsibility and making meaningful contributions," she continued.

"The navy is a messenger of friendship, spreading the seeds of peace and harmony around the world, and this training at sea has allowed us to forge emotional bonds with people around the world," Liu said.

Many cadets referred to this journey as a "voyage of youth".

"In our 20s, we are in the prime of our lives. Through this voyage, we have demonstrated the vitality and confidence of young soldiers in the Chinese Navy, conveying our image as peace-loving and open," Dou said. "It's not just about us seeing the world; it's also about letting the world see us."

Contact the writer at guiqian@i21st.cn