Photo: VCG

Editor's Note:

On October 1, as the nation celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), a ship carrying around 80 Chinese nationals and their foreign family members arrived safely at the Port of Limassol, Cyprus, as part of the country's evacuation operation as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, particularly affecting Lebanon. 

This evacuation operation, which took 40 hours of continuous effort and was successfully completed on National Day, exemplifies the Chinese government's "people-centered" governance philosophy. 

Recently, captain Ren Juncheng of the vessel Xin Xiamen owned by the China COSCO Shipping Corporation, which carried out the mission, and some of the evacuated Chinese nationals shared the behind-the-scenes events and touching moments of this operation with Global Times reporters Fan Wei, Cao Jie and Xu Jiatong.

This story is also part of the Global Times' "Witness to History" series, which features first-hand accounts from individuals who were at the forefront of historic moments. From scholars, politicians, and diplomats, to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historical moments help reveal a sound future for humanity through the solid forward steps taken in the past and the present.

Evacuees gather and wait to depart at the Beirut port, on September 30, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of China COSCO Shipping Corporation

Cargo ship takes on a critical mission

Ren recalled receiving the evacuation order via satellite phone from the China COSCO Shipping Corporation, realizing the urgency of the situation. It was his first overseas evacuation mission, and he received the order early on September 29 while directing his vessel toward Port of Iskenderun in Turkey. Despite the immense pressure, he felt honored, stating, "I knew I had to complete this mission well; I want to share this story with my children and grandchildren." 

China has conducted several maritime evacuation missions in the past, including the COSCO cargo ship Yangjianghe's operation in the Solomon Islands in June 2000 and the successful evacuation of 559 Chinese nationals from Libya by the Tianfuhe in February 2011, showcasing the effectiveness of maritime transport in such operations.

Industry insiders noted that a maritime evacuation's main advantage is its large capacity. Additionally, maritime and air evacuations can complement each other; air evacuations are often hindered by weather and airport limitations, while maritime evacuations face fewer restrictions. Maritime evacuations also allow for a rapid response. For instance, the China COSCO Shipping Corporation operates thousands of vessels globally.

The recent evacuation from Lebanon was carried out under unique circumstances, notably its timing, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. The urgency of the local situation made the evacuation critical, especially after Beirut was bombed shortly after the Xin Xiamen vessel departed, Ren said. 

The Global Times learned that at around 2 am on September 29, the China COSCO Shipping Group ordered the Xin Xiamen to assist with the evacuation, as it was the fastest Chinese ship available nearby, capable of reaching Lebanon quickly at a speed of 26 knots.

After receiving the order, the Xin Xiamen vessel quickly changed course and headed for Lebanon. The evacuation plan involved picking up overseas Chinese nationals and their families in Lebanon and then sailing to Limassol Port in Cyprus. "We chose Limassol as a transit point for several reasons. It's relatively close to Lebanon, and as an EU port, it offers a higher level of safety. Additionally, Limassol's facilities are suitable for large container ships. Given the 'Xin Xiamen's' limited capabilities as a cargo ship, we needed to transfer evacuees to a safe and convenient port as quickly as possible," said Ren. 

Chinese evacuees and their family members smile and take a photo with the vessel Xin Xiamen upon arrival on October 1, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of China COSCO Shipping Corporation

A home away from home 

Although the Xin Xiamen is a 70,000-ton container ship, it has living facilities for only 25 crew members. This posed a challenge for the ship's first evacuation mission: Safely transporting overseas Chinese nationals and their families from a war zone while ensuring their comfort.

Upon receiving the order, the Xin Xiamen divided its 22 crew members into five teams: safety assurance, on-site guidance, life support, psychological support, and mechanical support. 

The safety team ensured safe boarding and luggage handling, coordinating the process in batches of five. The guidance team assigned two crew members per deck to maintain order. The life support team provided food, water, and hygiene supplies, while the psychological support team communicated with evacuees to offer emotional reassurance. The mechanical support team conducted regular equipment inspections to ensure everything was operational.

Due to limited cabin space, the crew of the Xin Xiamen vessel sacrificed their own accommodations to prioritize the needs of elderly, weak, pregnant, and young passengers. Many crew members also shared their personal snacks, drinks, and blankets with the overseas Chinese nationals and their families, Ren told the Global Times.

To ensure everyone had enough to eat, the logistics team worked overnight to prepare snacks for when they boarded. "We did our best to prepare noodles and tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) for our compatriots. These foods symbolize smoothness and reunion, reflecting our crew's heartfelt intentions," said Ren. 

Some evacuees also shared videos of touching moments online during the evacuation. One video showed a banner hung on the ship that read, "The motherland welcomes you home." Ren noted that this banner was made on short notice as a sincere gesture to convey warmth to those returning from war-torn areas.

Ren explained that due to the unstable situation in Lebanon, some compatriots faced challenges reaching the Beirut port, with some departing at 5 am and boarding the ship at around 10 pm. They traveled in buses adorned with the national flag, escorted by an embassy convoy and security vehicles, with staff from the Chinese Embassy personally guiding them to the ship.

"Through these touching moments, I truly understood the meaning of the Chinese saying, 'The motherland may not be able to take you anywhere in the world, but when you need her, she can bring you back from anywhere,'" Ren recalled. After the evacuation, many crew members found heartfelt notes of gratitude left by the passengers.

"The successful completion of the evacuation mission was driven not only by our commitment to rescue our compatriots, but also by our strong sense of duty and high standards in ship management, ensuring we could respond to emergencies at any time. Most importantly, we have a powerful motherland supporting us," Ren said. 

Crew member guide evacuees off the vessel Xin Xiamen in an orderly fashion. Photo: Courtesy of China COSCO Shipping Corporation

People at uncharted crossroads

Wolf Warrior 2 is a popular action film depicting the rescue of Chinese nationals from a warzone. After watching it six times with her daughter, Cindy, a Chinese resident of Lebanon for 12 years, found herself and her family leaving Lebanon in a way that mirrored the film's plot.

Cindy spoke with the Global Times after departing from Lebanon by boat. "After this gripping rescue operation, we understand more than ever that while a Chinese passport may not guarantee access everywhere in the world, it can certainly bring you home from anywhere. No matter what dangers you face overseas, remember that there is a powerful motherland standing behind you," she said.

By October 5, the Chinese government had successfully evacuated 215 nationals from Lebanon in two separate operations. The first batch sailed on the Xin Xiamen vessel to Cyprus, while the second group, comprising 146 Chinese citizens and five foreign family members, arrived safely at the Beijing Capital International Airport aboard a chartered Air China flight on October 2.

Another evacuee surnamed Mo, who left Lebanon with the first batch, told the Global Times that while the number of Chinese people in Lebanon was already relatively small even during periods of peace, locals were generally friendly toward them and showed interest in Chinese culture. 

However, amid the ongoing conflict, the Global Times observed that there hadn't been a single Chinese person seen on the streets of Beirut, the capital, known for its bustling atmosphere, in recent days, and almost all Chinese restaurants had closed down.

A Chinese expatriate known to locals as "Mingge," has been living in Lebanon for 28 years and runs a Chinese restaurant. He was part of the second batch evacuated from Lebanon via chartered flight. He recounted his experience with the Global Times: "On September 28, I received the message from the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon inquiring about evacuation needs. On the evening of September 30, I received confirmation, and on the morning of October 1, I set off for Beirut International Airport. The entire evacuation process was incredibly smooth. Embassy staff were present at every stage, ensuring order and providing enthusiastic assistance."

In addition to the two evacuation batches, some Chinese expatriates have chosen to remain in Lebanon. Most of them have established families there and have stockpiled supplies. 

Zhao Ying, president of the China Arab Association for Promoting Cultural and Commercial Exchange, is one such individual. This year marks her 23rd year living in Lebanon. Although she opted not to evacuate alongside her compatriots, she actively participated in the evacuation preparations.

"Embassy staff, members of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's special task force, and others worked tirelessly for two full days to ensure the evacuees reach safety as quickly as possible," Zhao said proudly. "While other countries were still figuring out their evacuation plans, Chinese nationals were already safely back home."

Zhao shared with the Global Times that currently, approximately 10 or more Chinese expatriates remain in Lebanon. They communicate through a WeChat group chat, exchanging information about developments in the conflict and airstrike locations. Additionally, local Chinese residents utilize news notification apps to receive alerts about air raids.

Amid the bustle of Hamra Street, Beirut's most vibrant thoroughfare, the Global Times observed that business was far from booming. The ongoing Israeli-Lebanese conflict has grounded international flights, effectively shutting out tourists who traditionally inject between $2 billion and $3 billion into Lebanon's economy annually.

Salem, a veteran Lebanese trader in his seventies who relies on imports from China, continues to spend four hours at his company each day. He confided that his business is now about half the size it was during peaceful times.

Reflecting on the current conflict, Salem offered a pragmatic perspective: "Life has taught me that everything ends, but then begins again. This is the Middle East we live in."