Despite the long distance from Taiwan, many soldiers do not want to leave the islands after their terms of duty expire. Officer Liu Sengfang, for instance, has volunteered to prolong his stay on Itu Aba Island.
不要以為太平島的孤懸地位會讓人裹足不前，有人寧願在太平島上待一輩子，也捨不得離開，劉勝芳士官長就是一個例子。他在島上駐守了十年多，每次部隊換防時，他都不願離去，理由是他太喜愛這個地方，這兒遠離紅塵的自然環境，能夠滿足他心靈的需要。