Deceiving the Heavens and Crossing the Sea
Ancient commentary states: Scheming actions should not be carried out in secret places. Stealing in the middle of the night or killing in an alleyway are foolish and vulgar acts, not those of strategists. This strategy "Deceiving the Heavens and Crossing the Sea" in the context of grand plans refers to "taking things that are commonly seen for granted, thus inadvertently becoming careless or lax, hence being able to exploit the gap, feigning falsehood while concealing the truth, masking certain military movements, seizing the moment, and achieving victory through surprise." In this case, we are actually condemning the immature and irresponsible behavior of these "deceiving superiors and deluding subordinates," "plugging their own ears while stealing a bell" type of travelers. Many self-proclaimed adventurers believe they are highly skilled and familiar with local tourism resources, often taking reckless risks. Once accidents happen, they lead to tremendous waste of social resources.
Commentary
Traveling stubbornly against advice is an extreme irresponsibility toward oneself and others
Due to the establishment of Sansha City, tourism to the Xisha Islands has become a hot spot. Numerous travelers flock there, seeking to join groups through various “clubs” and similar organizations found online. However, at the time (January 2013), the Xisha tourism route had not yet been officially opened. Many adventurous travelers from the mainland could only resort to traveling on private fishing boats or modified vessels. These fishing boats encountered emergencies at sea, prompting frequent reports of such dangers received by the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration.
Data released by the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration shows that last year, maritime search and rescue centers at all levels received a total of 110 maritime emergency incidents, involving 504 people in distress. A total of 481 people were successfully rescued. A total of 254 vessel deployments and 18 aircraft sorties were coordinated to assist in the rescues, with a success rate of 95.4% in saving lives. Those planning to visit the Xisha Islands must ensure they travel on qualified vessels and through authorized tourism agencies. At the time, most trips to Sansha were undertaken on fishing boats that had been privately modified—these boats neither had the required certifications nor met safety standards, posing significant risks. The local maritime authorities repeatedly warned both domestic and international tourists not to trust online group tour information regarding Xisha. This incident reflects how treacherous travel can be; adventurers should not act recklessly or heroically. Adventurers should not engage in thoughtless and irresponsible "wild tours." Responsible, lawful, and well-planned travel is what is expected.
Travel is meant to be joyful, and life safety should always come first. Although there are many forms of "self-punishing" adventure travel, and not all end in failure, traveling in such a headstrong manner is itself an extremely irresponsible act toward oneself and others. Looking at recent incidents, some occur because people try to evade ticket fees by climbing mountains illegally; others arise from curiosity or a desire to act bravely, taking unconventional routes for convenience and ultimately getting lost; some encounter disasters; or people venture into dangerous areas without preparation or guides. All such cases place the satisfaction of personal desires above the loss of public resources. Multiple incidents have shown that illegal or non-compliant behavior is the primary cause of danger. Therefore, once rescued, strict punitive measures must be enforced. The vast majority of travel emergencies result from the ignorance of the travelers themselves, and the international consensus and norm for such rescue situations is: “Those who create the danger bear the responsibility.” It is essential to regulate issues of responsibility in探险救援 (exploration rescues) and the sharing of rescue costs, and any waste of social resources resulting from such rescues must be legally pursued and held accountable.
Travelers must pay the cost for their “ignorance”
Indulging irresponsible behavior is also a “crime.” Since the implementation of the Tourism Law, those ignorant yet self-assured travelers must take responsibility for their actions—not only as a cautionary measure but with real “penalties.” In the past, the public could only express anger morally, which not only caused unnecessary trouble for maritime departments but also led to massive waste of public resources. Now, with clear regulations and legal backing, travelers also have corresponding obligations and responsibilities. They must follow established public rules. Most countries address such situations by making the travelers cover the costs to reduce waste of public resources. The responsibilities of travelers should also be clearly defined. Laws must bind travelers lacking a sense of responsibility, and corresponding liabilities must be pursued in accordance with the law. Such matters must never be left unresolved or ignored in defiance of the Tourism Law.
The Incident
In early January 2013, 24 travelers organized a sea tour via the internet. The fishing boat they boarded frequently malfunctioned and eventually became stranded in the waters near Sansha, drifting at sea for four days. They sent out a distress call via Weibo and were later rescued through the joint efforts of the Hainan Border Police Coast Guard and the Ministry of Transport’s South China Sea Rescue Bureau. At the time, Xisha tourism was still in the planning stages and had not been opened to the public, making this trip an illegal one. The fuel cost for this rescue reached 400,000 RMB, sparking widespread social debate on whether such rescues should be charged for.
Regulations
Tourism Law, Chapter 6, Article 82
When tourists' personal or property safety is in danger, they have the right to request timely assistance from tourism operators, local governments, and relevant institutions. After receiving assistance from such organizations or institutions, tourists shall pay the expenses for which they are individually responsible.
Links
Similar travel incidents are numerous: Travelers in danger at Sanya Xiaodonghai, adventurers risking entry into Xisha and encountering danger, 54 tourists getting lost and stranded on Tongguling Mountain in Longlou Town, Wenchang City, Hainan. Subsequently, Wenchang police, firefighters, and border troops conducted a joint search and rescue operation, successfully rescuing all trapped tourists after several hours. Recently, 66 travelers from Xingtai, Hebei, were trapped overnight in the deep mountains. Other related incidents include the shocking case of “18 Shanghai travelers trapped on Huangshan, with a 24-year-old rescue police officer falling to his death,” among others. There are also cases where travelers illegally entered the core area of the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon Nature Reserve, encountered an avalanche, resulting in 2 deaths and 3 trapped.