Remains of fallen heroes returned to China

A Y-20 aircraft carrying the remains of fallen heroes who died during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53) landed at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport in Liaoning province on Friday morning.

Soon after the colossal jet entered Chinese airspace, four J-20 stealth fighter jets escorted the plane in a show of respect.

A solemn ceremony is set to take place at Shenyang airport to welcome the return of these fallen warriors.

The Y-20 had flown to South Korea's port city of Incheon on Wednesday to bring the remains and belongings of 30 Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs back to their homeland.

Led by Peng Dehuai, commander-in-chief of the Chinese People's Volunteers, nearly 2.9 million Chinese soldiers fought in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians recruited by the CPV died in combat.

Since 2000, South Korea has been recovering the remains of fallen Chinese soldiers, with the first official return taking place in 2014. To date, the two sides have conducted 12 handovers involving the remains and belongings of 1,011 CPV martyrs.

A high-level Chinese delegation and a group of honor guards from the People's Liberation Army also arrived in South Korea on Wednesday to carry out the handover.

On Thursday, a ceremony was held in Incheon, where the remains were placed in Chinese caskets, each covered with a Chinese national flag.

Earlier on Friday morning, the remains were officially handed over to the Chinese delegation at Incheon International Airport. Chinese personnel then held a memorial ceremony before escorting the remains back to China.