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

China

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

2024-11-29 14:43 Last Updated At：16:07

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.

ROK president reiterates firm adherence to one-China principle

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that Seoul firmly adheres to the one-China principle, in comments made ahead of his upcoming state visit to China.

The remarks were made in an interview with China Media Group (CMG). The visit is scheduled for Jan 4–7.

"The consensus reached between governments of the Republic of Korea and China when diplomatic relations were established continues to be the fundamental principle governing our relations, and its effectiveness remains steadfast. I want to clearly state that the ROK has always adhered to the one-China principle. Maintaining peace and stability in regional matters, including in Northeast Asia and concerning the Taiwan issue, holds significant importance to us," said Lee.

"The foundational relationship between the ROK and China was established on a very principled and fundamental basis from the beginning. It is clear that the ROK government has always adhered to this position and has never wavered from it. I believe that the sound development of ROK-China relations depends on both sides fully respecting each other's core interests and being mutually tolerant of each other's positions. In this context, we will, as always, uphold the one-China principle as the Taiwan issue is China's most fundamental concern," he said.