A Y-20 large transport aircraft carrying the remains and belongings of Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs is escorted by two J-20 stealth fighter jets in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning Province, September 16, 2022. Photo: Xinhua

Two J-20 stealth fighter jets escorted the Y-20 large transport aircraft carrying the ninth batch of 88 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs' remains as it returned to China from South Korea on Friday. Remains of the 88 Chinese soldiers, who sacrificed their lives during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53), arrived at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport on Friday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force sent its J-20 stealth fighter jets to escort the Y-20 large transport aircraft for the first time in the repatriation from South Korea of the remains of the CPV martyrs, a move that not only pays tribute to the CPV martyrs but also displays the increasing number of J-20s in service, experts have noted.

When the aircraft landed at the airport, the control tower at Shenyang airport announced over the radio: The country is at peace and is prosperous, with a strong army. Pay tribute to the Chinese People's Volunteers and welcome them home!

In a somber and respectful mood, a ceremony was held at the airport to welcome the remains of the CPV soldiers. The Chinese national anthem was played and a number of veteran soldiers and relatives of the martyrs attended the ceremony, according to state broadcaster China Central Television.

Together with the remains, the belongings of the heroes were also brought back to China, according to the authorities.

China and South Korea on Friday held a handover ceremony at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea for the remains of 88 Chinese soldiers to return to the homeland, according to the authorities. The event was attended by a Chinese delegation led by Chang Zhengguo, Vice Minister of Veterans Affairs, and South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon and officials with the defense ministry.

Representatives of both sides signed a handover document. Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming covered the coffins of the CPV martyrs with China's national flag before China held a memorial service. The Chinese honor guards escorted the coffins to the aircraft, which took the CPV martyrs' remains back to the motherland.

China and South Korea have jointly carried out the handover of the remains of the martyrs in South Korea for nine consecutive years and the remains of 913 Chinese soldiers have been returned to their motherland, following humanitarian principles and in the spirit of friendship and practical cooperation, Chang said.

The burial ceremony for the ninth batch of 88 CPV martyrs will be held on Saturday at the martyrs memorial square in Shenyang. China and South Korea have successfully carried out the handover of the remains of 825 CPV martyrs from 2014 to 2021.

Shen Jinke, a spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force, said that the Y-20 aircraft belongs to a glorious tradition, and has been involved in the fight against COVID-19 in Wuhan and Shanghai.

"After taking off in South Korea, I couldn't calm down for a long time," said Pang Rongqi, captain of the Y-20. "As a Y-20 pilot, we have to practice hard to contribute to the country's military strength."

Shen told the Global Times that the PLA Air Force has used the new-generation of J-20 stealth fighter jets, but the MiG-15 jet fighters which were used in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea will never be forgotten.

After carrying out the escort mission and paying tribute to the heroes on the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, Gao Zhongqiang felt honored and extremely proud.

Wang Mingzhi, a military expert, said that the J-20 fighters and Y-20 aircraft mission presents the image of strong military forces in the past decade in front of the martyrs, to console all the revolutionary martyrs, and at the same time carry forward the spirit of the CPVs in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.