Li Changhuan, one of Li's crewmen, said the short poem paints the big picture of what Chinese New Year is like for the naval task force. "Reuniting with family and celebrating the new year together is a common aspiration," he said.

Although the conditions might be depressing, everyone was still cheerful, festive, and "feeling joy" as they decorated the interior with paper cutouts, balloons and lanterns.

"People might take family reunions during Spring Festival for granted, but for us, it is a real luxury," Li Changhuan said, adding that one of the most frequently heard sentences among his crewmates was them telling their families "sorry, I can't come home".

"Our jobs don't get easier during the holiday, and we must carry the burden of protecting regional and national security," he said. "We are all well aware of the responsibility on our shoulders, and this sense of duty is what drives us to give our best, even when everyone back home is enjoying their time off."

On the Haikou's operation deck, Wang Guoli said that he and Lin Huyuan have to stare at dots on their radar screen during Spring Festival to look for any suspicious activity. "When there are big merchant ships passing by, we have to focus even harder," he added.

On side platforms of the deck, Wang Lei from the Special Combat Unit and his teammate used high-power binoculars to survey the water surface, while standing and perspiring under the baking sun in full combat gear.