China is set to welcome home the remains of 43 Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. The repatriation from the Republic of Korea (ROK) is scheduled for November 28, according to China’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
A Chinese delegation, including a team from the Guard of Honor of the People’s Liberation Army and a transport aircraft, has departed for the ROK to carry out the handover mission. A ceremony will be held in Incheon on the morning of November 28 to seal the coffins and finalize the transfer documents.
The Chinese delegation and the Chinese Embassy in the ROK will conduct a memorial service at Incheon International Airport. The remains will then be flown to China, where a formal welcome ceremony is planned at Shenyang Taoxian Airport. A solemn burial ceremony will take place at a cemetery in Shenyang on the morning of November 29.
This marks the 11th repatriation of CPV martyrs’ remains since China and the ROK signed a handover agreement. Between 2014 and 2023, the two countries have cooperated to return the remains of 938 CPV martyrs, along with related artifacts. Both sides have agreed to continue their efforts in honoring these fallen heroes.
Almost 200,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war, with most buried on the Korean Peninsula. Since 2019, China’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs has launched an initiative to locate the families of these martyrs. By the end of 2023, families of 10 martyrs have been found.
One poignant story is that of martyr Zhan Zhizhong, whose remains were repatriated in 2020. In 2021, through DNA matching, his son, Zhan Chaoming, was finally able to reunite with his father. “I am so fortunate. After decades of longing for my father, I’ve finally found him,” said the 80-year-old son, tears streaming down his face. “The nation hasn’t forgotten, the people haven’t forgotten. I hope more martyrs can be reunited with their families.”
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New batch of Chinese martyrs' remains to be returned from ROK
cgtn.com
