Honor guards escort coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the day. Photo: CNS Photo

A Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains and personal effects of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53) landed at noon on Wednesday. Against a large backdrop bearing the words "The nation longs for heroes to come home," these fallen heroes finally returned to their motherland to rest in peace. 

The aircraft took off from Incheon International Airport in South Korea on Wednesday morning, returning them to China, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The special plane entered Chinese airspace at around 10:23, after which it was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. Subsequently, at around 11:14, the formation arrived at the airport and conducted a flyover.

"The motherland has never forgotten [the CPV martyrs], nor have the people; we pay tribute to the loyal martyrs with the highest honors," personnel from the Air Traffic Control Tower at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport addressed the Y-20B pilot before the plane landed.

Since 2014, China and the South Korea have completed 13 consecutive handovers involving the remains of 1,023 CPV martyrs in the South Korea. Wednesday's mission also marks the first time the Y-20B has been deployed for the repatriation duties.

More than 70 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). China sent 2.9 million CPV soldiers to assist the DPRK during the war, of whom more than 360,000 were killed or injured. After the arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, Xinhua reported.

The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea stands as the founding battle of New China. The heroic mettle and spirit of sacrifice demonstrated throughout the war constitute the most precious spiritual treasure of the Chinese nation, Su Wei, a professor at the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Chongqing Municipal Committee, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The regular handover of the remains of CPV martyrs serves to convey that we have never forgotten them, and stands as the most direct way to uphold and carry forward the great spirit of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, said Su, adding that it is all about upholding and honoring justice.

Highest honors for heroes

According to footage captured by a Global Times reporter from the scene, after the Y-20B touched down smoothly on the runway, it slowly passed through an arched water gate formed by two spurting columns of water on the apron - the highest ceremonial honor in aviation, the "water cannon salute," to welcome the fallen martyrs home.

The latest mission not only represents the Y-20B's first martyr repatriation task, but also its first overseas mission in service. The reason for choosing the Y-20B is fundamentally to present to the fallen martyrs that China is now capable of bringing them home with the one of its most cutting-edge military assets, so that those who lie in eternal slumber may rest assured, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The deployment of four J-20 stealth fighter jets for escort duties on this mission also demonstrates that the number of China's stealth combat aircraft has significantly increased, standing as compelling proof of the nation's growing capacity, Song added.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Type 054A guided-missile frigate Ordos, stationed within Dalian's Lüshun Port, greeted the returning remains with the highest ceremonial honors of full-dress ship, marking the first time the PLA Navy has ever organized a ceremony to welcome the remains of fallen soldiers, according to the official account of the PLA Navy.

As the formation passed over Lüshun Port, the Ordos conducted an inaugural air-sea dialogue with the Y-20B. All crew members rendered hand salutes, while every other vessel in the port simultaneously sounded prolonged whistles to escort the martyrs home, according to CCTV News.

Song said that by including one of the numerous Type 054A frigates in the event, China aims to demonstrate to the martyrs that China's Navy has also achieved leapfrog development, and that we possess sufficient strength to defend our airspace and safeguard our territorial seas.

"I hope they can see the prosperous scene of our motherland," said Wu Dawei, a veteran of the CPV, according to a local media outlet. At an age of 95 years old, he maintained a resolute voice, and expressed his wish to tell his fallen comrades-in-arms that "our nation has grown strong."

As the final resting place for the CPV martyrs' remains, Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, has also made thorough preparations. Along five major thoroughfares on the repatriation route, over 3,500 national flags have been hung, local media outlet the Shenyang Evening News reported on Wednesday. Themed slogans such as "Heroes, welcome home" have been broadcast through the city. Since Monday, the lighting facilities along the repatriation route, including building facades and bridges, have been adjusted to a "China red" color hue, according to the report.

Su noted that the reason for the solemn repatriation of the fallen martyrs lies in China's profound understanding of peace, adding that it is because China knows all too well that peace is hard-won and that it cherishes and defends peace all the more. 

To remember, to pass on

The Global Times reporter at the scene noticed that besides veterans of the War, representatives of martyrs' families, and officers and soldiers from the heroic companies of the War, many young students wearing red scarves were at the ceremony. Multiple schools in Shenyang organized students to watch the live broadcast of the homecoming ceremony, local media outlets reported.

Sun Zhouzhou, a young local resident of Shenyang, was fortunate to witness the convoy and the escort motorcade pass by this morning. She told the Global Times that some citizens had gathered spontaneously along the main road, holding national flags to see off the fallen heroes, while traffic police officers saluted.

"I felt both inspired and deeply moved as the solemn and imposing escort passed right before me," Sun said. It is because of their sacrifice and unwavering dedication that our country would never again be trampled upon by anyone.

Su said by valuing heroes, we enable today's youth to understand that heroes are not born, but forged in trials and tribulations. "This in turn inspires a new generation to revere, learn from, and aspire to be heroes," he added.

"May the heroes who fought to defend our neighbors, fight for peace, fight for justice, and fight for victory - those who laid down their lives - live forever in glory," said Wang Tiejun, a 94-year-old CPV veteran at the ceremony. He expressed his hope that the younger generation will forever carry forward the martyrs' legacy and build an even greater motherland.

The best way to cherish the memory is to inherit, and the best consolation is to strive, said Dai Jun, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea, in an interview after the handover ceremony at Incheon International Airport. He added that the world today is not at peace, with many regions engulfed in flames of war, and the peace and stability we enjoy in our region are worthy of being cherished deeply.

"We will inherit the spirit of heroic martyrs, forge ahead with united strength, cherish peace and stability that has come at a great price, stand firm in our commitment to defending world peace, and strive tirelessly for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind," Dai added.

Su said that only a nation that cherishes the memory of sacrifice is worthy of peace and only a country that upholds and carries forward the spirit of heroes can stand unyielding.

As the Y-20B and its escort fighter jets flew over the playground of a primary school in Shenyang that morning, children wearing red scarves ran across the grounds toward the direction the aircraft were heading, a video released by China News Service showed on its official WeChat Channel.

"This moment vividly embodies the meaning of 'the prosperous era you fought for has come true'", read the caption.