We continue our special series on China's naval transformation, "Red Star, Blue Water". Today we focus on the Marine Corps. According to a Defense Ministry statement, the Marine Corps was established to strengthen the structure of the Navy. It became its own branch of the navy, like its counterparts in the US and the UK. With more amphibious capabilities planned, expansion and reorganization are on the table, with equipment and training upgrades. CGTN's Han Bin was given exclusive access to a special operations task force in southern China.

"The Marine Corps is a backwater attack. We rely on the ocean to infiltrate the land."

"It's mainly to test the diving skills of the special operations soldiers, to overcome the fear of the deep sea. The purpose of our training is to make them less likely to bleed on future battlefields."

"We are more like a group of frogmen. Our special operations force is the vanguard in joint operations. Only by penetrating the enemy's heart, can we better secure joint operations. We should be the point of the sword in joint operations, to strike terror into the enemy."

GONG KAIFENG, SQUADRON OFFICER JIAOLONG COMMANDOS "I feel the biggest transformation now is it's combat-oriented and more international. We're gradually building a world-class Marine Corps."

LUO PING JIAOLONG COMMANDO "In my eyes, the Marine Corps isn't as glamorous as I expected. Our training is very hard and tiring. But this unit is the real thing." 

"For concealment, special task soldiers often march through the jungle. Jungle search is a reconnaissance and combat method. Coordination between tactics takes a long time to learn. You don't need much language-- just a look or a gesture to know what to do next."

"The biggest transformation in me should be the shaping of my own values. No matter what problems we encounter, we should learn to be like a soldier, like a man, to take on the responsibility, to face the problem, and never to be overwhelmed." 

"As a student, I didn't have a deep understanding of the mission of the state and the fate of the nation. But after military service, the content of our daily training is in the context of actual combat. The enemy we have to face is real. When the order from above is issued, we must follow through. So at that moment, I can feel what an individual's responsibility to the country is." 

"Urban counter-terrorism is an important task for the special operations forces. At present, we conduct it mainly for rescue, search, and break in. Anti-terrorism operations have always been an important issue in the study of each country. The same is true for the Jiaolong Commandos, making research on the operations stronger."

LUO PING JIAOLONG COMMANDO "The Marine Corps has brought me so many things. If I have to choose the most important, it should be the ability to face up to problems and solve them. There are no weak people here, no one will accept tears."

HAN BIN SANYA, HAINAN "China's marine corps was formed in the 1950s for amphibious assaults. Today, the goal is an expeditionary force for missions far beyond territorial waters. So they have to be prepared for anything and everything. "

GONG KAIFENG, SQUADRON OFFICER JIAOLONG COMMANDOS "My strongest dream is the world knowing our name, Jiaolong Commandos."

LUO PING JIAOLONG COMMANDO "When China heads towards the ocean and the world, the Marine Corps should be at the forefront, in opening new frontiers, and parting the waves."

Han Bin, CGTN, from Sanya in Hainan Province.