China has dispatched its advanced home-grown Y-20B transport aircraft for the mission to repatriate the 13th batch of remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) from the Republic of Korea (ROK), demonstrating the country's highest state honor for the revolutionary martyrs, said a military commentator.
This marks the first time that the Y-20B has flown abroad to repatriate the remains of 12 CPV martyrs killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) on Wednesday.
The Y-20B carried the fallen heroes to Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, home to the CPV martyrs' cemetery.
Since 2014, the remains of 1,011 soldiers have been returned to China from the ROK, according to China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
"Dispatching domestically produced advanced transport aircraft to repatriate the remains of the CPV martyrs is the highest honor the nation can bestow upon revolutionary martyrs. It embodies the Chinese nation's profound sentiments of remembering history, honoring the fallen, and cherishing peace. This not only demonstrates national strength and national confidence but also conveys a value orientation that reveres heroes and honors martyrs, representing a perfect fusion of patriotic duty and national defense capabilities," said Zhang Xuefeng, a military commentator.
The Y-20B, equipped with domestically produced engines, made its first public appearance during the military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War on September 3, 2025.
During the flight, the Y-20B demonstrated smooth and fluid acceleration and formation maneuvers, fully showcasing its excellent flight performance.
The Y-20B is a derivative of the Y-20, equipped with four domestically produced high-bypass turbofan engines, which give it a stocky appearance.
With the Chinese-made engines, the Y-20B features lower fuel consumption, greater range, higher payload capacity, and faster speeds.
It possesses long-range strategic transport capabilities and can operate in complex environments such as high-altitude and high-temperature regions.
Zhang said this major national asset will continue to play a pivotal role in various missions in the future.
"The Y-20B is an excellent aerial platform that can be modified into an aerial refueling aircraft. If an early warning aircraft is developed, it can be equipped with a larger radar antenna to more effectively detect stealth aircraft. Moreover, it can fulfill multiple functions. If necessary, it can be adapted into an airborne command post or a communications relay aircraft for strategic command and communications, or even developed into a weapons carrier to launch stand-off missiles, thus transforming the transport aircraft into a bomber in an instant. Y-20B will become a vital aerial platform for safeguarding national interests, fulfilling the responsibilities of a major country, and protecting the safety of people's lives and property," he said.
China's use of transport aircraft Y-20B for CPV remains repatriation reflects deep national honor: commentator
