Xi honors PLA soldier killed in Galwan
A People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldier who died in the June 15, 2020 clash in Galwan Valley was among 29 people honored by China’s President and Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping on Tuesday. The presentation of the ‘July 1 medal’ comes ahead of the party's 100-year anniversary, which is set to be marked in Beijing on Thursday with great fanfare, including a speech by Mr. Xi.
Ahead of July 1, Mr. Xi honored 29 people who were “outstanding party members". Among three of the awardees honored posthumously. China had, in February, announced military honored posthumously was Chen and three others, finally confirming it had suffered casualties some eight months after the clash.
Mr. Xi said the recipients of the medal had “maintained staunch faith” which was “to stay toe to the original aspiration and dedicate everything, even the precious life, to the cause of the Party and people". He said “generations of Chinese Communists have fought tenaciously for national independence and liberation, for prosperity and strength of the country, and for the happiness of the people.”
Other recipients of the award included Wang Shu mao for “participation in the construction of the Nansha : Islands [as China calls the : Spratly Islands], developing civilian forces to safeguard China’s legitimate rights in : the South China Sea and leading the way in resolutely safeguarding China's territorial integrity and maritime rights without fear of death, and Wang Zhanshan, a veteran of the Korean War (referred to in China as the “War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea"), the Global Times said.
Among the winners was Zhang Guimei, awarded for her work in setting up China’s first free high school for girls from poor families, Metjan Wumer, an ethnic Uighur, awarded for being “a leading model against religious extremist forces” in Xinjiang, and Liu Guljin, a former diplomat, recognized for his contributions to China-Africa relations.
Sources-THE HINDU
Pic Credit-GOOGLE