Air Force sends plane to carry back the remains of Chinese soldiers from ROK

The People's Liberation Army Air Force has sent a Y-20B aircraft to the Republic of Korea to carry back the remains of a number of Chinese soldiers who died during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53), the force said on Monday.

The martyrs have rested in a foreign land for over 70 years. Their names may be unknown, but their meritorious deeds will live on forever, the Air Force said on its official WeChat account on Monday afternoon while announcing that a large transport Y-20B aircraft is en route to carry out the task of handing over remains and related items of the 13th batch of the CPV martyrs.

According to public information, since 2014, China and the ROK, in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, have successfully completed 12 handovers involving the remains of 1,011 CPV martyrs in the ROK, along with related artifacts. Both sides have agreed to continue their cooperation in these efforts, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs said.

By October 2025, the identities of 36 Chinese martyrs have been confirmed, with their family members located, the ministry said.

In recent years, China has significantly intensified efforts to identify the remains of fallen soldiers, including establishing a dedicated DNA laboratory to enhance the national DNA database for the remains of martyrs and their families.

Nearly 200,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war lasting from 1950 to 1953. On Monday, the Air Force asked people to leave the messages that they want to say to the martyrs on social media, of which 13 will be selected and put on the transport aircraft with the remains of the martyrs.