Bringing Tet to the Spratly Archipelago

Photo: Vietnamtimes

The Naval Region 4 Command at Cam Ranh Military Port (Khanh Hoa province) received Tet gifts that Vietnamese officials, people, and overseas Vietnamese sent to the people of the Spratly Islands. This unit held a departure ceremony to transport these items to officers, soldiers, and people who are working and living on the Spratly Islands on December 21, 2022. This is a special shipment, carrying the traditional Tet gifts of the nation, the feelings and beliefs of the Party, the State, and the people of the country, and the breath of spring from the mainland to the troops and people in the community on the Spratly archipelago.

Photo: Vietnamtimes

Photo: Vietnamtimes

Before announcing the order for the ships to leave Cam Ranh Military Port for Truong Sa, Colonel Nguyen Van Bach, Standing Member of the Party Committee, Deputy Commander, and Chief of Staff of Naval Region 4 said: "We have just received a report that there is a northeast monsoon, so the sea will have big waves and there will be heavy rain". However, leaders of the Navy Region 4 have agreed to send 4 specialized ships from Cam Ranh Military Port to sea to deliver Tet goods to islands on the sacred Spratly Islands (Truong Sa).

Photo: Vietnamtimes

"In addition to goods that are necessities to serve the needs of officials, soldiers, and people on the islands and stationing points, there are many gifts that carry the essence of Tet such as dong leaves, glutinous rice, green beans, pork, kumquat trees, cherry blossoms, apricots, and bananas. On this journey, the ships also carried hundreds of handwritten letters from students across the country sent to officers and soldiers working on the archipelago," Colonel Nguyen Van Bach added.

Photo: Vietnamtimes

As assigned, we were arranged to go on ship KN490. This is the most modern designed ship, second in the group of existing ships of the Vietnam Navy. According to the plan, the ship will go to the northern island routes of the Spratly archipelago such as Song Tu Tay, Da Nam, Co Lin, Len Dao, Sinh Ton Dong, and Sinh Ton. The sea in this season always has big waves and strong winds. As soon as the ships left Cam Ranh Military Port, the loudspeaker announced: "Currently, the sea is having strong winds and high waves accompanied by heavy rain, so members on board are requested to pay attention to ensure safety." During the first night of the long sea voyage, gusty winds and torrential rain fell, but the ships still weathered the storm.

Photo: Vietnamtimes

Colonel Pham Van Tho, Deputy Political Commissar of Brigade 146, Naval Region 4, shared: Recently, the Spratly archipelago has had rough seas and big waves, it is expected that the journey will be very difficult, but I hope officers and soldiers and reporters will be determined to overcome everything to bring goods and gifts to the islands. Each gift from the mainland is a bond of love connecting them with the people of the Spratly Islands.

Photo: Vietnamtimes

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Phuc, commanding officer of the ship KN490, 146th Brigade, Navy Region 4, said: "This time, we knew that the weather was not favorable, the wind was strong, the waves were from 3m to 5 m high. so right from the moment when the goods are loaded onto the ship, officers and soldiers have to classify the goods and preserve them carefully. Dry goods such as confectionery, bamboo shoots, vermicelli, and fragile goods are packed in many layers to avoid saltwater intrusion. Items such as peach trees, kumquats, and apricots are covered with plastic to limit the impact of the sea breeze because if the salt is allowed to cling to the foliage, fruits, or flowers, the tree will easily dry out. The unit also assigned soldiers twice a day to water the plants with fresh water.

Photo: Vietnamtimes

After more than 16 days of overcoming the rough seas and storms, on January 6, 2023, the Navy Region 4 mission completed the task of bringing the mainland's necessities and Tet gifts to the troops and people of the region.

Photo: Vietnamtimes

During the meeting to summarize the transportation of goods for the Lunar New Year to the Spratly archipelago, Rear Admiral Le Van Thuan, Political Commissar of Region 4 of the Navy affirmed: it is a sacred sea and island left by our forefathers. We will protect and preserve them for generations to come. Tet gifts are a great encouragement, showing great concern of the Party, State, Ministry of Defense, and the people of the country to the islanders. At the same time, this also brings affection, faith, and spring breath of the mainland to the officers, soldiers, and people of the Spratly archipelago. We hope that it helps them to have more determination and will to fight and sacrifice to firmly defend our sacred sovereignty over the sea, islands, and continental shelf.

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