Photo: Screenshot from the video "Guarding the Sea"

On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the implementation of China's Coast Guard Law, the China Coast Guard (CCG) released two promotional videos, Guarding the Sea and Law Enforcement in the Sea, on February 1.

Guarding the Sea showcases the CCG's active involvement in international and regional maritime governance, featuring multiple scenes from recent years of its maritime rights-protection, international cooperation and rescue operations. 

A Global Times reporter noticed that the video marks the first time footage from China-Russia coast guard joint helicopter patrols was released to the public. In addition, scenes showing mutual port visits between CCG and vessels from Malaysia, Vietnam and other countries highlight the CCG' s commitment to safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The video also highlights the CCG development journey over the past five years. It features footage of the CCG conducting routine rights-protection law enforcement at Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea, such as Huangyan Dao and Tiexian Jiao, as well as scenes of patrols in high-latitude areas of the North Pacific, which reflects that the CCG has begun to participate more extensively in international maritime governance.

The video also includes footage of joint patrols and exchange visits between the CCG and the coast guards of Russia, Vietnam, Malaysia and other neighboring countries. In these joint patrol activities, the patrol formats are not limited to the sea but have also expanded into the air. 

In addition, the video also reveals footage of maritime rescue operations carried out by the CCG in recent years. Apart from the touching scenes of successfully rescuing 17 Filipino crew members who fell into the sea on January 22, CCG officers were also commended by the government of Jeju Province, South Korea, for successfully rescuing Korean fishermen.

Some Western media outlets constantly portray the CCG as a regional "bully." In reality, the CCG has become a "protector" for many people in neighboring countries. Equipped with advanced maritime equipment, the CCG has the capability to carry out international maritime rescue operations - and in practice, it has done exactly that, Yang Xiao, a maritime issues expert at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. 

The CCG is an important participant in international and regional maritime governance. In addition to conducting maritime rescues, it also plays a key role in protecting the marine ecological environment and combating crimes at sea. For many countries surrounding China, the involvement of the CCG in these efforts is highly beneficial to maintaining maritime order, Yang said.

Some countries' politicians and Western media offen exaggerate differences and create tensions. However, even when China has disagreements or disputes with certain countries, this does not affect the CCG's willingness to provide assistance to foreign nationals at sea. Therefore, negative portrayals of the CCG by some politicians and Western media are unfair, Yang said.

On January 29, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said that the PLA Navy and the CCG are not only defenders of national sovereignty, but also guarantors of peace. We will continue to fulfill our duty of safeguarding China's maritime territory, make concrete efforts to uphold a maritime community with a shared future, and contribute more to building the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, Jiang said.