BEIJING, April 10 -- China does not have any military bases overseas. But when civilians, Chinese and foreign, were waiting hopefully for an escape from war to peace, the Chinese navy came.

Within 12 days, Chinese warships have transported 629 Chinese nationals and 279 foreign citizens out of war-torn Yemen.

These ships have been like trustworthy Noah's Arks, bringing both Chinese and foreigners to safe lands.

The success of the mission demonstrates the country's growing international presence and strength to take responsibility for maintaining peace.

Recent years have witnessed a rapid increase in China's strength, along with its soft power.

Faced with new security threats outside battle fields, China is honing its skills in fields including economics, politics, military and culture.

Indicating the soft power, the China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and "Belt and Road" international trade and infrastructure initiatives are welcomed by many countries. They will benefit China's neighbors and even the whole world.

The increase in soft power is accompanied by hard power -- growing military strength.

Years of effort are bringing returns. The world was impressed with China's deployment of military force to evacuate thousands of Chinese citizens in Libya in 2011.

On March 26, an air campaign started in Yemen, leading to the suspension of all commercial flights at airports across the country, with only a few airports open for charter planes.

Despite the extreme difficulty of evacuation in Aden due to the intensive exchange of fire, the People's Liberation Army(PLA) Navy provided the most needed help in a timely manner.

Rescue missions represent an examination that China must pass before it becomes a major country.

Besides receiving thanks from individual foreign nationals aboard the vessels, the foreign ministries of Germany, Poland, Pakistanand Japanhave also expressed their sincere gratitude to China.

Being a decisive country with the efficiency to back up those decisions, China is shouldering more duties in maintaining world peace and responding to disasters and crises.

The PLA Navy has carried out humanitarian missions including anti-pirate patrols in the Gulf of Aden and getting drinking water to the Maldives.

China has also become the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

As often mentioned, China, being the largest developing country, will focus on domestic development. If the world opens its arms to embrace a stronger China, it will gain more than it loses.