Yongxing Island at night. Photo: Guo Yuandan/GT

Confidence

In February, several American media outlets reported that China has placed two batteries of eight surface-to-air Hongqi-9 missiles and radar on Yongxing Island, and accused China of "further militarization" in the region.

In response, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MOD) told the Global Times on February 17 that "China has deployed sea-air defense in the related islands and reefs for years. The speculation of Western media is purely them repeating the 'China threat'."

At a museum set up by the troops, the history of the Xisha Islands including the invasions of France, Japan and Vietnam are recorded.

On Yongxing, there stands other physical evidence which marks Chinese ownership of the Xisha Islands, including a monument erected on November 24, 1946 by Zhang Junran, a lieutenant of the naval command of the then Republic of China government.

In 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. According to the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, in September 1946 the Chinese government organized a navy formation to recover the Xisha Islands and other South China Sea islands.

Zhang was adviser of the formation and joined the recovery. Later, he was appointed as the first director of the management office of Xisha Islands, according to the PLA Daily.

In January 1974, the Chinese navy launched a war of self-defense and counterattack, recapturing the Xisha Islands after they were occupied by South Vietnam.

Beside the monument, there's a cannon tower that was built by the Japanese. Climbing it and taking in its panoramic views, its hard to imagine the conflict that took place here in the past.

The Yongxing School lies peacefully on the Beijing Road. On the exterior wall of Li Ruyin's classroom on the second floor is written "Sovereignty Sansha, Beautiful Sansha and Happy Sansha." Li said she loves her life there. "I like it here. The sea is beautiful and has three colors, white, green and blue," the girl said proudly.

Yongxing itself is like a picture, embodying "the past and present, war and peace, and capable to fight to stop war."

However, the US has made frequent patrols with excuse of "free navigation" in the South China Sea and even held large-scale military drills in the area with some countries, which has fueled regional tensions.

A soldier said Xisha's peace has been broken by the increasing presence of foreign fleets. According to Jin Lei who always takes on the combat readiness duty, the duty is very tense as the emergencies are becoming more often. But he appears more confident.

"The equipment has been renewed, including new types of missile corvettes and frigates. Aside from the fleet, air deployment has also increased. With the use of information facilities, I feel more and more confident," he said.