Yang Suxiang sweeps the tombstone of her son Wang Zhuoran, a martyr sacrificed in the China-India border clash in June 2020, with a towel in Luohe, Central China's Henan Province on Saturday. Photo: Li Hao/GT

With the centennial celebration of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) around the corner, five border defense heroes who fought bravely in the Galwan Valley border clash with Indian troops in June 2020 have been awarded with the highest Party honor of July 1 Medal, the outstanding Party member of the country and outstanding Party members in the military.

Wang Zhuoran, Chen Xiangrong and Xiao Siyuan, three martyrs who sacrificed their lives in defending Chinese territory in the border standoff with India in 2020, were awarded outstanding CPC members in the military, the Central Military Commission announced on Wednesday.

Qi Fabao, the regimental commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) border troop, was given the award of outstanding CPC member of the country along with other 399 Party members on Tuesday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Chen Hongjun, another border defense hero who held his post in the plateau for 10 years and died safeguarding China's territorial integrity against Indian troops'  provocation, was presented the highest honor of the Party - the July 1 Medal, with another 28 awardees who were conferred by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at the Great Hall of the People Tuesday morning.

At the border clash with India last June, Qi Fabao suffered severe head injuries as he led PLA troops, and Chen Hongjun and Chen Xiangrong broke into the siege for rescue but sacrificed during the clash. Xiao Siyuan returned after the siege to save his comrades until his last minute, and Wang Zhuoran was submerged in the glacier when he was trying to help others cross the river. 

Qi was awarded with the title of "Hero Regimental Commander for Defending the Border," and Chen was awarded with "Hero to Defend the Border." The other three martyrs were awarded first-class merit by the Central Military Commission.

Global Times