Visitors pose for a selfie with Chinese national flags in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The hall will host several events at the annual two sessions, including the plenary meetings of China's top legislative body and political advisory body. Photo: IC

Chinese netizens flooded social media with tributes to national heroes' sacrifice for the country's peace and prosperity, as well as China's dedication to safeguarding the international order and world peace, as the anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) army firing the first shot in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53) coincides with the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the UN, which pushed patriotism and national pride to new heights.

The hashtag "50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the UN" dominated Chinese social media on Monday, with 13.11 million reads as of press time. Pictures and videos of Qiao Guanhua, then Vice Foreign Minister, who led the delegation of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at the United Nations Assembly Hall, went viral.

On November 15, 1971, headed by Qiao, the delegation of the PRC made its debut at the United Nations Assembly Hall. The delegation immediately became the focus of attention at the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). When asked about how he felt, Qiao leaned back and replied with a loud laugh that impressed everyone present. Earlier, on October 25, 1971, all the rights of the PRC in the United Nations were restored with the help of developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Some netizens even posted a cartoon of Qiao smiling, with China's peacekeeping troops and medical workers who aided other countries in fighting COVID-19 in the background. The caption read, "Qiao's laughter 'shattered the glass of the UN conference hall' back then; looking at the photo, we can still hear Chinese people's proud laughter throughout time."

Many netizens said the moment opened a "new chapter" and is a "milestone" for China's diplomacy, as the country has since joined almost all international organizations and signed more than 600 international conventions. "China has been unwaveringly upholding the international order under the UN framework; and unlike one country, it never tears up any agreement," said one Sina Weibo user. 

Regarding the contributions China has made since returning to the UN, netizens also engaged in discussing China's sending 50,000 people to UN peacekeeping missions, with relevant topics read 55.3 million times on social media. 

"We love peace, we don't want war, but we definitely won't surrender if someone tries to bully us," said a Sina Weibo user during the discussion.

Monday also marks the 71st anniversary of the CPV army firing the first shot in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Cinemas in several cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, have released 1950: They Are Young, a new documentary that honors veterans of the Chinese People's Volunteer army, to commemorate this special day. 

Many moviegoers were touched by stories of how the soldiers sacrificed their youth and lives for the peace and prosperity of the country. "We should remember them, especially those who deceased. And hopefully, the remains of martyrs can return home. Now that China already possesses powerful weapons, we are capable of protecting ourselves and never have to be envious of other's planes," wrote one viewer on Douban, a Chinese review website of movies and television series.

China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs said on Monday that the country launched a DNA data base to help families identify their relatives among martyrs. 

Cherishing deceased soldiers and pride in China's diplomatic victories have pushed netizens' patriotism and national pride to new heights. "Such strong feelings toward their country have been propagated since the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China; and has reached new heights in recent days, which witnessed the return of Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, and the nationwide commemoration of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea," Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University, told the Global Times.

Zhang said rising patriotism has been caused by China's rapid social and economic development, and some countries, especially the US, do not recognize or even try to thwart such development.

Along with China's 50 years in the UN, another hashtag, "How the US stood in the way of restoring China's lawful seat in the UN," also attracted a wide following.

"China realized long ago the only way out is self-reliance and development. We broke the US encirclement and restored our lawful seat in the UN, and we will achieve our national rejuvenation despite US obstruction," said one netizen.