From carrying guns to serve the country to raising shields to protect business: why are we veterans turning to safeguarding overseas interests? — Fellow veterans, report back for duty!

This article explains the original aspiration and conviction of veterans who have transitioned to the overseas security field. Considering the current prominent global security deficit and the need to expand national overseas interests, it clarifies the necessity, scientific rationale, reasonableness, and feasibility of retired military personnel dedicating themselves to this cause. At the same time, it issues a call for former comrades to return to the ranks and makes a solemn commitment to safeguard overseas citizens and Chinese diaspora.

I. Thirty Years of Military Service, Unchanged Original Aspiration, Continued Struggle

    Since childhood, I aspired to join the military and serve the country. In 1995, I fulfilled my dream of putting on the uniform, with only one passionate dream in my heart: to serve in the military for life—either to die in battle and be wrapped in a horsehide, or to grow old and die in the barracks. After thirty years of tempering, from a green recruit to a white-haired veteran, I have no earth-shattering deeds, only day-after-day perseverance and dedication, pouring all my youth and passion into national defense. With a clear conscience, I have been worthy of the motherland, the people, the uniform, the oath, and that sincere 'lifelong military service.' The barracks are like iron, soldiers like flowing water. But taking off the uniform is far from the end of serving the country. I clearly know that protecting overseas interests and international public security is a more urgent and needed new battlefield! Wherever the nation's interests extend, our protection should follow; wherever our compatriots tread, our shields should stand guard!

II. Veterans Don't 'Lie Flat', Second Expedition to New Journey

    Even after retirement, our nation still needs us veterans for its security and development, because we have always upheld our commitments and responsibilities: we leave the ranks but not the Party, we take off the uniform but not our spirit, we leave our posts but not our resolve, we change our attire but not our hearts, we retire from service but not from duty, and we take up new employment to continue our aspirations! Many leaders, comrades-in-arms, relatives, and friends are puzzled by my choice to draw a monthly retirement pension and devote myself to international public security and overseas security undertakings. Only I myself know clearly that this "second expedition" was planned ten years ago, that it is a prudent choice of mine, a continuation of my aspirations, and even more a reflection of my character! I am unwilling to "lie flat" and enjoy a leisurely life by virtue of retirement. Therefore, I resolutely invested my modest retirement pension into a new undertaking, embarking on a new journey and stepping onto a new battlefield—founding the "Huafu Hai'an International Public Security Service Consortium," training bases, and entity enterprises such as "Qinglong Guard Overseas Comprehensive Services and Security Technology," defining a dual positioning and staying true to our original aspiration: a non-profit consortium/think tank: setting standards, conducting training, carrying out research, and setting a benchmark for the industry; profit-making service enterprises: focusing on execution, delivering projects, creating opportunities for comrades-in-arms, and consolidating the foundation for the cause. This is how I am, and this is how my like-minded comrades-in-arms are as well. Faced with the question "Why make such a choice," we respond frankly: if it were for money, we would not exhaust our family savings; if it were for personal gain, we would not rush to dangerous overseas locations. Protecting our home and country is our unchanging original aspiration and pursuit! No regrets in this life for joining the military, no regrets in the rest of my life for guarding—even if the road ahead is full of thorns, we will press forward without hesitation and never look back!

III. Why Go Overseas? Why Us Veterans?

    Switching to overseas security is a careful consideration I have made from the perspective of the international situation, the national overall situation, and long-term development, and it is even more a continuation of veterans' mission—simply because at this very moment, our overseas compatriots and national interests need our protection even more!

(I) International Trend: Security Deficit Prominent, Urgent Need for Justice to Fill the Gap

    In today's world, unipolar hegemony runs rampant, geopolitical conflicts occur frequently, non-traditional security threats intensify, the global public security system is extremely fragile, and countless ordinary people are mired in suffering. Whenever I think of and see the scenes of those people's suffering, I feel it deeply, as if a needle were piercing my heart and I were sitting on pins and needles. The Daodejing says, "The great system is not cut apart," and the Zhouyi advocates "ceaseless self-improvement and great virtue to carry all things." I have always advocated: abandoning unipolarity, moving toward multipolarity, and advancing toward non-polarity, to achieve harmony among all nations and great unity under heaven—this is the original aspiration of a community with a shared future for mankind, and even more my personal ultimate pursuit! But this requires the shared awakening and struggle of the world's people. Empty talk is useless; practical action is essential! We veterans are willing to step forward, gathering torches from faint lights, filling the security deficit, and conveying China's justice and warmth. This is not a choice but a mission; not an obligation but a faith! Only through practical action can we protect the peace of all households and build great unity under heaven!

(II) National Needs: Expansion of Overseas Interests, Urgent Need for Solid Protection

    Our country's overseas interests continue to expand, extending from traditional assets to emerging fields. Wherever our interests reach, security assurance must follow! The reality is heart-wrenching: citizens, Chinese nationals, Chinese enterprises and institutions in distant oceans and overseas are repeatedly subjected to plunder and infringement, with their lives and property under serious threat, yet the nation's overseas protective forces remain conspicuously insufficient and, constrained by international public opinion, many operations struggle forward. Therefore I firmly believe: sending civilian paramilitary forces abroad to protect overseas interests is the best—indeed the only—choice at present! This is also the core viewpoint I repeatedly advocated to senior officials and society during my ten years working in Beijing. I believe even more firmly: we veterans are willing to serve as the nation's "arms that cannot reach," guarding interests on behalf of the motherland and sheltering our compatriots from wind and rain! Rest assured, motherland; rest assured, compatriots—with us here, overseas interests are secure, and the safety of our compatriots is assured!

(III) Comrades-in-Arms' Commitment: Solving Employment Challenges, Building a Platform for Serving the Country

    Tens of millions of veterans possess strengths in loyalty, discipline, strong execution and solid emergency-response capabilities, yet often lack a platform to serve the country. We founded "Huafu Hai'an" both to safeguard home and country and to build a stage for our comrades-in-arms to realize their value! This achieves two goals at once and is of extraordinary significance: it safeguard the nation's overseas interests while helping comrades-in-arms find employment and start businesses, letting military glory endure forever and fully demonstrating the value of veterans! Comrades, your skills should not go to waste, and your passion should not go unfulfilled. Let us fight side by side and renew the glory of military service!

IV. Huafu Hai'an: Veterans' Steadfastness, Duty to Home and Country

    We have no abundant capital, no illustrious background—only the professionalism, discipline and loyalty forged through years of military service, and only the sincerity of a group of veterans who have poured in their family savings and stood together in steadfastness! Facing our families' worries, we answer firmly: "It is worth it! If we can save one compatriot or protect one asset, all our efforts are meaningful. Overseas is our new battlefield; protection is our new mission!" Our promise is weighty in every word: we strive to build a world-class public security service system, forge a top-tier national force for protecting overseas interests, let the world see Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions and Chinese strength, let the globe know the commitment of Chinese veterans, and give reassurance to the nation, to our compatriots, and warmth to our comrades-in-arms! Words must be matched by deeds, and deeds must bear fruit—with veterans' loyalty and courage we guard the peace of home and country, and with lifelong steadfastness we answer the call of our era!

V. Veteran Comrades, Report Back for Duty!—A Veteran's Call to Assembly, a Manifesto for Serving the Country

    If you once pledged to serve your country, dreamed of a lifelong military career but found no way in; if you cannot bear to see overseas compatriots bullied or national interests infringed upon; if you are unwilling to settle for the status quo and still carry the unextinguished fire of serving your country — comrade, report back to the ranks! Let us stay armed and ready, preparing for new battles! From bearing arms to defend the nation to raising shields to protect commerce, though the uniform is off, the original aspiration remains unchanged; though the battlefield has changed, the sense of responsibility stays the same! The charge has been sounded on the overseas battlefield — our compatriots and our motherland are awaiting our deployment! When two people are of one mind, their strength can cut through metal; when a group of veterans are of one mind, they can uphold the sky of overseas security! Huafu Haian is the veterans' new home and a stage for serving the country, quietly awaiting every one of you who returns to the ranks, to jointly fulfill our mission and build glory together! Veterans return to the ranks, mission accomplished without fail; united in strength, together we protect home and country! Let us guard our home and country with a loyal heart, embark on a new journey with iron-willed responsibility, and spend the rest of our lives fulfilling the solemn oath of "a lifelong military career in service of the country"! Here, we solemnly declare to all overseas citizens, Chinese nationals abroad, and Chinese-funded enterprises and institutions: Huafu Haian — though far, we will reach you; though dangerous, we will go! From the military barracks to overseas, what changes is the battlefield; what never changes is our protection. We will always stand in front of you, as your most solid backing and most reliable support!

    Finally, let us share these two poems, ancient and modern, for mutual encouragement:

"Qin Feng · Wu Yi" (Book of Songs)

Say you have no clothes? I will share my robe with you. The king is raising troops; I will sharpen my spears and halberds, and share your enmity! Say you have no clothes? I will share my undergarment with you. The king is raising troops; I will sharpen my spears and halberds, and work alongside you! Say you have no clothes? I will share my lower garment with you. The king is raising troops; I will ready my armor and weapons, and march alongside you! "Inscription of Quenching the Blade and Going to Sea": Rooted in China, our way blends across five continents; though far, we will go; through danger, we will prevail. Quenching the blade and forging shields, together we defend shared peace; devoted to rejuvenation, we secure the nation's enduring interests.