The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who fell in action during the 1950-1953 War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, or the Korean War, were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.
A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at the Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets.
The aircraft received the highest aviation honor of a water salute at the airport. CPV veterans and other attendees welcomed the martyrs' remains at the airport.
The Y-20B used the call sign "Ronggui 50" (meaning glorious return), symbolizing that the heroes who departed for war in 1950 are finally making their glorious return home.
The remains and personal effects of the fallen soldiers were then transported to the CPV martyrs' cemetery under the escort of a police motorcycle team. Along the route, people from all walks of life lined the streets, waving national flags and holding banners to welcome the martyrs home and pay their respect.
A burial ceremony for the CPV martyrs' remains is scheduled to take place at 10:00 Thursday at the cemetery.
Since 2014, China and the ROK have completed 13 consecutive hand overs involving the remains of 1,023 CPV martyrs in the ROK. Wednesday's mission also marks the first time the Y-20B has been deployed for the repatriation duties.
Remains of 12 Chinese martyrs who fell in action in Korean War returned to homeland from ROK
Remains of 12 Chinese martyrs who fell in action in Korean War returned to homeland from ROK
The one-China principle is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday, in commenting on Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's planned visit to Eswatini, which had to be canceled after relevant African countries revoked the necessary flight permissions.
"All African countries, with the sole exception of Eswatini, have established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. These 53 countries together with the African Union have adopted the Beijing Declaration at the 2024 FOCAC Summit. They have reiterated on many occasions that they firmly uphold the one-China principle, that there is but one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that they firmly support all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification," said Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, at a press conference in Beijing.
"China highly commends the relevant countries' commitment to the one-China principle which is fully consistent with international law and basic norms governing international relations," he said.
"It's very clear that there's no longer a so-called 'Republic of China president' in the world anymore. Anyone who wears that false title is acting against history and will only invite disgrace upon themselves. The one-China principle is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends, and to uphold it is a right thing to do. No one can ever stop the eventual reunification of China. The separatist attempts aimed at Taiwan secession are just futile and are doomed to fail," said the spokesman.
One-China principle is where arc of history bends, public opinion trends: spokesman
