In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' participation in the War to resist US aggression and Aid Korea

“Fording the Yalu River in high spirits…” In the past 70 years, the Battle Song of the Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) has remained inspiring, and the great spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea has never faded.

It is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation to love and cherish peace. The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea was imposed on the Chinese people by the imperialist invader.When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the then Truman administration of the US brazenly intervened with armed forces and launched a full-scale war against the DPRK. Despite repeated warnings from the Chinese government, the US-led “UN Forces” crossed the 38th parallel and pressed ahead towards the Yalu River and the Tumen River on the China-DPRK border, sent naval troops to invade the Taiwan Strait, and bombed China’s northeast border area, setting fires of war to the territory of the newly-born People's Republic of China. To safeguard peace and resist invasion, the Chinese government made the resolute and historic decision to help Korea resist US aggression and protect our homeland. Holding up high the banner of justice, the heroic CPV fought side by side with the Korean people and army in bloody battles, some sacrificing their lives, and eventually won the great victory of this war.

The triumph of this war was the triumph of justice, peace and the people. The CPV, displaying amazing heroism, fought fearlessly with the enemy, wrote a magnificent chapter of resisting foreign aggression, and created a glorious paradigm of the weak defeating the mighty in the human history of warfare. Enthusiastically answering to the call of the Party and the government, all lines of professions and all walks of life across the country joined the surging movement to support the frontline troops and forged an inexhaustible force that united the country in defeating the powerful enemy against all difficulties. All peace-loving countries and people offered sympathy, support and assistance to the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, and the righteous force eventually won the war. The great war defended the security of the newly born People’s Republic of China, demonstrated the might of new China and the strength of its military. The cruel war also tempered the Chinese armed forces, significantly raised China’s international status, reinforced the Chinese people’s national confidence and pride, and made huge contributions to world peace and human progress.

The history of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea is a heroic history recording the glorious youth and lives of the CPV soldiers. During that war, the CPV, demonstrating great patriotism and revolutionary heroism, fought relentlessly to protect the homeland, emerging more than 300,000 heroes such as Yang Gensi, Huang Jiguang and Qiu Shaoyun and nearly 6,000 meritorious groups. They are the heroic sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, the staunch guardians of national security and world peace, and the “most honorable people” to the full. The CPV heroes and their merits have never been and will never be forgotten by China and its people. Their contributions will be recorded, and their names will be remembered from generation to generation. The Chinese nation has nurtured countless heroes, and the new era sets the stage to have more. The nation should respect, learn from and care for heroes, strongly promote the heroic spirit, and pool a tremendous force to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

War is the competition of both materials and the mind. The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea has not only sounded a laudable song of victory but also forged a great spirit. The CPV members always upheld patriotism by placing the interests of the motherland and the people above all and defying personal danger to safeguard the dignity of the motherland and the Chinese nation; upheld heroism with their bravery and acts of courage; upheld optimism by demonstrating high morale despite hardships and difficulties; upheld loyalty by sacrificing themselves to complete missions assigned by the motherland and people; upheld internationalism by striving for the cause of peace and justice of humanity. This spirit, regardless of time and space, is a valuable spiritual wealth that will keep inspiring the Chinese people and nation to overcome all tribulations and defeat all strong enemies.

The smoke of that war 70 years ago has long vanished, but the world remains eventful today. Looking back on that war, we have recognized more profoundly the far-reaching significance and historical contributions of our victory and that peace and justice will only prevail when we are brave and powerful enough to defend them. At the moment, the profound changes never seen in a century are evolving at a faster pace across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically influenced the international landscape, and China is facing more uncertainties and instability in its security situation. On our way forward, all service members must consider the overall domestic and international situations, sharpen their awareness of unexpected hardships, crisis, and combat readiness, and stick to their initial aspirations and mission. Holding confidence in our final victory and exerting our fighting spirit, we should hone our combat capability, seize the day, and press ahead with the modernization of national defense and armed forces. Only by enhancing the capability of fulfilling our mission and tasks in the new era more quickly will we be able to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests and maintain strategic stability in general.

Great victory can motivate later generations. Seventy years on, we are embarking on a new journey today. The commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the CPV entering the DPRK to help Korea resist US aggression will urge us to better draw on historical lessons for enlightenment on current and future development.

We will stress the political integrity of the military, strengthen it through reform, science and technology, and talent, and govern it according to the law, focused on war-readiness training and breakthroughs. We will make all these efforts to achieve a decisive victory in finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, succeed in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and realize the Chinese Dream and the dream of building a powerful military, to make greater contributions to maintaining world peace and creating the community with a shared future for mankind.