Artists head to islands to boost morale

More than 50 artists have been sent by the PLA Navy to perform for soldiers and workers on the Nansha and Xisha islands.

The artists, including singer Song Zuying, visited Chigua Reef in the Nansha Islands and gave a performance there on Wednesday after giving one on Yongshu Reef - also part of the Nansha Islands - on Monday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The artists arrived at Yongshu Reef, the first stop of their trip, on the Kunlunshan, an amphibious landing craft.

China Central Television reported that the performance trip will last for nine days and will cover seven reefs and three islands in the Nansha and Xisha islands, including Meiji Reef and Yongxing Island.

It is the first time the PLA Navy has organized large-scale performances on the Xisha and Nansha islands to entertain soldiers and workers there.

The construction of Yongshu Reef attracted international attention last year. In June, Xinhua released a satellite photo showing the reef after reclamation was completed, and months later China confirmed it had built an airport there.

Reports said construction of other facilities, including a hospital, is also underway on the reef.

On April 17, a PLA Navy patrol aircraft landed at the airport to transport three workers who needed medical treatment.

Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said the trip, which started on Monday, is aimed at bringing happiness to and enriching the cultural lives of soldiers and workers.

He said it has been a decadeslong tradition for PLA Navy artists to visit and perform for those working on the front line, especially during holidays, to boost morale.

Peng Guanqian, a retired PLA major general, said the trip demonstrates the support given by the Party, the PLA and the people of China to soldiers and workers on the islands.

"They are at the forefront of guarding the islands. ... They are working in tough conditions. We should entertain them with such performances," he said.

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/06/2016 page3)