Andrew S. Erickson

Open source intelligence pro tip #1: if you’re trying to lurk in the shadows of deniability—however implausible—don’t record and release an official music video!

Zachary Haver just published a blockbuster expose on the Sansha Maritime Militia. Among many revealing details, he mentioned that this vanguard unit of China’s Armed Forces has its own music video.

Immediately below are the lyrics in Chinese, pinyin, and English. Key lines:

平时维权当先锋

Píngshí wéiquán dāng xiānfēng

In peacetime, be the vanguard of rights protection

急时参战打胜仗

Jí shí cānzhàn dǎ shèngzhàng

In times of emergency, join the battle and win the war

Be sure to watch all 2 minutes and 13 seconds for fascinating vignettes of personnel and operations. You may wish to pause and examine key frame-images such as that showing a militiaman reading the “永乐工作简报” (Yongle [Islands] Work Briefing). At the bottom of this post is a Chinese article with screenshots, associated images, and additional background.

My bottom line: the next time PRC officials appear to deny the existence of their own Maritime Militia, play them this music video! PAFMM karaoke, anyone?

Political Department of the PLA Hainan Province Sansha Garrison,

三沙海上民兵之歌 [The Song of the Sansha Maritime Militia], 12 April 2020.

三沙海上民兵之歌

Sān shā hǎishàng mínbīng zhī gē

The Song of the Sansha Maritime Militia

斗海浪 迎朝阳

Dòu hǎilàng yíng zhāoyáng

Fighting the waves, welcoming the rise of the morning sun

海上民兵英名传扬

Hǎishàng mínbīng yīngmíng chuán yáng

The Maritime Militia spreads its illustrious name

世代耕耘祖宗海

Shìdài gēngyún zǔzōng hǎi

Diligently cultivating the ancestral sea for generations

碧海丹心铸海疆

Bìhǎi dānxīn zhù hǎijiāng

Molding loyalty to the blue sea on the ocean frontier

战风云 为梦想

Zhàn fēngyún wèi mèngxiǎng

Fighting against the winds and clouds to achieve our dreams

海上民兵斗志昂扬

Hǎishàng mínbīng dòuzhì ángyáng

The Maritime Militia’s fighting spirit is soaring

不畏艰险担使命

Bù wèi jiānxiǎn dān shǐmìng

Not fearing hardship, carrying out the mission

建设三沙创辉煌

Jiànshè sān shā chuàng huīhuáng

Building Sansha to create glory

海上民兵海疆卫士

Hǎishàng mínbīng hǎijiāng wèishì

The Maritime Militia is the guardian of the ocean frontier

报效国家忠诚于党

Bàoxiào guójiā zhōngchéng yú dǎng

Serve the Country and be loyal to the Party

海上民兵海疆卫士

Hǎishàng mínbīng hǎijiāng wèishì

The Maritime Militia is the guardian of the ocean frontier

报效国家忠诚于党

Bàoxiào guójiā zhōngchéng yú dǎng

Serve the Country and be loyal to the Party

平时维权当先锋

Píngshí wéiquán dāng xiānfēng

In peacetime, be the vanguard of rights protection

急时参战打胜仗

Jí shí cānzhàn dǎ shèngzhàng

In times of emergency, join the battle and win the war

自豪吧 我们是三沙海上民兵

Zìháo ba wǒmen shì sān shā hǎishàng mínbīng

Be proud, we are the Sansha Maritime Militia

战风云 为梦想

Zhàn fēngyún wèi mèngxiǎng

Fighting against the winds and clouds to achieve our dreams

海上民兵斗志昂扬

Hǎishàng mínbīng dòuzhì ángyáng

The Maritime Militia’s fighting spirit is soaring

不畏艰险担使命

Bù wèi jiānxiǎn dān shǐmìng

Not fearing hardship, carrying out the mission

建设三沙创辉煌

Jiànshè sān shā chuàng huīhuáng

Building Sansha to create glory

海上民兵海疆卫士

Hǎishàng mínbīng hǎijiāng wèishì

The Maritime Militia is the guardian of the ocean frontier

报效国家忠诚于党

Bàoxiào guójiā zhōngchéng yú dǎng

Serve the Country and be loyal to the Party

海上民兵海疆卫士

Hǎishàng mínbīng hǎijiāng wèishì

The Maritime Militia is the guardian of the ocean frontier

报效国家忠诚于党

Bàoxiào guójiā zhōngchéng yú dǎng

Serve the Country and be loyal to the Party

平时维权当先锋

Píngshí wéiquán dāng xiānfēng

In peacetime, be the vanguard of rights protection

急时参战打胜仗

Jí shí cānzhàn dǎ shèngzhàng

In times of emergency, join the battle and win the war

自豪吧 我们是三沙海上民兵

Zìháo ba wǒmen shì sān shā hǎishàng mínbīng

Be proud, we are the Sansha Maritime Militia

前进吧 我们是三沙海上民兵

Qiánjìn ba wǒmen shì sān shā hǎishàng mínbīng

Advance forward, we are the Sansha Maritime Militia