Military movies strike a chord in China

Editorial note: Operation Red Sea, based on the Chinese navy's evacuation of Chinese nationals from Yemen in 2015, when civil war broke out in that country, has attracted wide attention as did the similarly military themed film Wolf Warrior 2 last year. A military expert and China Ocean News analyze why such films have become trendy. Excerpts follow:

Navy's overseas missions protect national interests

It is the Chinese navy's mission to protect the country's national interests and meet its international obligations as the film Operation Red Sea shows in the evacuation of Chinese nationals from overseas. Such military movies have attracted growing public attention in recent years, since, in its nearly 70 years of history, the People's Liberation Army Navy only started overseas missions a few years ago, a change that has greatly stirred up the patriotic fervor of Chinese people.

China upholds active defense as its military principle and does not intend to jeopardize the sovereign and security interests of other countries. However, China's near-sea defense in no way means its navy should not "go out", since the navy is always the means of conducting operations to protect the lives and property of Chinese nationals overseas if they are caught in conflicts or natural disasters.

With China's economic growth and its increasing influence on the international stage, the Chinese navy has had to adjust accordingly. The Chinese navy's overseas actions, including its anti-piracy missions, are not only in accordance with its own national interests but also show China is shouldering its international responsibilities.

However, some countries are nervous about China's rise, which is reflected in various "China threat" theories. But China will never seek maritime hegemony. It will continue to maintain peace with growing military strength.

It is fine to use the film to show the country's military strength and its determination to protect the national interests and to create the image of the great power.

However, the film doesn't totally equate to reality because of artistic license and creation. For example, the commander repeatedly says, "we must not enter other countries' territorial waters", which is not accurate, as according to the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, foreign ships enjoy the right of "innocent passage" through territorial seas and such passage is not prejudicial to peace and security. Military vessels, too, enjoy the right provided they get the approval of the coastal countries concerned.

Thus, films about the military should be carefully checked by authoritative experts in the future to ensure the accuracy of their facts. And it is not wise to hype the wrong messages which may cause negative effects.

Wang Xiaoxuan is a Beijing-based expert on military issues. This is an excerpt from his interview with China Daily's Yao Yuxin.

The film calls for nationals' awareness over ocean power

The blockbuster film Operation Red Sea, released on the first day of the Chinese New Year, has successfully catered to audiences' tastes and translated into great profits. Based on the evacuation of Chinese nationals from Yemen in 2015, the film, strongly supported by the Chinese navy, portrays China as a responsible member of the international community, and presents a good image of the country's naval power and its ability to safeguard its maritime rights.

Even though it is a country with 3 million square kilometers of sea under its jurisdiction and an 18,000 km coastline, China is far from being a sea power and it has suffered invasion from the sea in the past. It is therefore necessary to raise Chinese people's perceptions of the need to protect its maritime rights.

US naval officer Alfred Mahan proposed in 1890 that the United States seize sea power by controlling maritime transport routes, ocean shipping, and marine resources, in order to continuously benefit the country in economic development and get control of the world. It is under the guidance of this "sea power theory" that the US has built up its navy.

China once enjoyed a brilliant maritime civilization like the prosperous maritime Silk Road during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220) and the "treasure voyages" commanded by Zheng He during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

However, China lost its status as a sea power in modern history, partly because of the lack of the awareness about the importance of the oceans.
Now China's overall maritime force has grown and it has indigenous aircraft, nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. However, the advanced equipment and weapons do not mean powerful naval strength if there is no corresponding ocean awareness. The film Operation Red Sea helps raise people's awareness about the need for a strong navy.

The piece is an excerpt from a commentary in China Ocean News.