National flag once brought to China's space station raised in Shenyang for CPV martyrs

A Chinese national flag that once traveled into the space was raised on Thursday in the heart of Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, to commemorate the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who laid down their lives in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) .

A Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport aircraft brought the remains of 43 CPV martyrs along with 495 pieces of their belongings from the Republic of Korea (ROK). The plane landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang at 12:07, and was greeted with a water cannon salute.

This five-star red flag entered China's in-orbit Tiangong space station with the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft on April 25 this year. After being transferred in space and displayed in orbit, it returned to Earth on the Shenzhou-17 manned spacecraft on April 30.

Previously, this flag had been relayed in more than 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across the country, including Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.

"Our people, especially our youth, will never forget the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for us. At the same time, we also see that the five-star red flag that our heroes and martyrs protected with their lives has been brought into space today through the joint efforts of several generations of astronauts and scientific and technological workers. In fact, it is a better way to comfort our heroes and martyrs," said Yang Liwei, deputy chief designer of China's manned space program and China's first taikonaut.

The remains are laid to rest in the Shenyang Cemetery for Martyrs of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

From 2014 to 2023, China and the ROK, in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, successfully completed 10 consecutive handovers involving the remains of 938 CPV martyrs from the ROK, along with related artifacts.

A total of 2.9 million CPV soldiers fought on the battlefield, with more than 360,000 killed or injured, during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

National flag once brought to China's space station raised in Shenyang for CPV martyrs

National flag once brought to China's space station raised in Shenyang for CPV martyrs

A Chinese envoy said Friday that Japan is not qualified at all for a permanent seat on the Security Council of the United Nations (UN).

A meeting of the inter-governmental negotiations on the reform of the UN Security Council was held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday, to discuss equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council.

In his speech, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said that the trend of multipolarity in today's world is irreversible, and the collective rise of the Global South is unstoppable. Since the founding of the United Nations 80 years ago, he said, there are still 59 member states that have never been admitted to the Security Council.

Fu noted that the representation and voice of developing countries should be enhanced, and more small and medium-sized countries with independent foreign policies should be allowed to enter the Security Council. It is especially important to address the historical injustice suffered by Africa and make priority and special arrangements for Africa's demands, he said.

"The Security Council must not be allowed to become a club of the rich and the big. Reform should not benefit only a few countries. Any country that participates in the Security Council should represent the interests of its region. They should also gain wide recognition from countries in the region," said Fu.

Fu reiterated that Japan is not qualified to seek a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

"Finally, I would like to emphasize that Japan refuses to reflect on its historical crimes of aggression, openly tramples on the post-war international order, and interferes in the sovereignty of other countries. Such a country has no qualification to demand to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council," he said.

Japan not qualified for permanent seat on UN Security Council: Chinese envoy