STORY: 70 years on, Korean War armistice rings bell of peace
DATELINE: July 27, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:49
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. File footage of China's War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953).
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): PAN XIBIN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG CHANGYUAN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PAN XIBIN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG CHANGYUAN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): PAN XIBIN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
7. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): X.N IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi
8. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): AARON RABENA, Research Fellow of Manila-based Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation
9. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): ZHAO AILING, Head of School of Marxism, Beijing Information Science and Technology University
 
STORYLINE:
70 years ago, an armistice halted the three-year Korean War. It also marked the victory of China's War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.
 
The Korean War broke out in June 1950, eight months after the founding of the People's Republic of China. The flames of war soon reached the border river of Yalu, and U.S. planes repeatedly bombed northeast China's border regions. On Oct 19, 1950, responding to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's request for assistance, Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) army crossed the Yalu River to aid the DPRK's fight.
 
Battle after battle, the poorly-equipped CPV force, along with the DPRK army, fought the U.S.-led forces which were armed with the most sophisticated weapons and equipment of the time until an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): PAN XIBIN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
"The enemy's attack began with aerial bombardment, followed by artillery bombardment, then came the tanks with infantry following behind. We took cover in the trenches when artillery bombardment occurred. When the enemy's planes bombarded us, we hid in the caves. When the tanks came to a halt and the enemy soldiers advanced, we resisted them with light weapons from a range of two hundred to one thousand meters.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG CHANGYUAN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
"In the Battle of Triangle Hill (Shangganling), our entire company repelled the enemy's attack more than 30 times. Over 130 people in our company fought the battle, and just over 50 survived."
 
The CPV force paid a heavy toll for their victory against a stronger, better-armed enemy. More than 197,000 Chinese people had died in the war. But their resolve to fight against imperialism and defend the national security remains firm to date.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PAN XIBIN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
"I would definitely volunteer to defend our motherland. If time rewound to 70 years ago, I would still fight the war at the call of the country."
 
SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG CHANGYUAN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
"We fought a righteous war, and our sacrifices are worthwhile. If I were asked to make my choice again, for the sake of our country's security and the people's happiness, I would definitely go to the battlefield without any hesitation."
 
By participating in the war, China contributed greatly to ending the active military hostilities. It also succeeded in building a peaceful environment that boosted the morale of the Chinese people and facilitated the country's economic development.
 
SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): PAN XIBIN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran
"Decades of peaceful environment (after the war) have made our country wealthy and strong, which deters the enemy."
 
SOUNDBITE 6 (English): X.N IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi
"I think that is a good sign that China is for world peace and that's a good sign that China wants other countries to enjoy peace and prosperity."
 
70 years on, the war signifies the importance of peace and collaborative endeavors aimed at safeguarding a peaceful environment for the collective welfare of the world.
 
SOUNDBITE 7 (English): AARON RABENA, Research Fellow of Manila-based Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation
"I think the Korean War actually is a grim reminder of the horrors of war. So I think in this regard, I think countries around the world should remind themselves that dialogue is very important, mutual restraint, mutual understanding and mutual respect."
 
SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): ZHAO AILING, Head of School of Marxism, Beijing Information Science & Technology University
"The spirits forged in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea remain ever fresh. Among them, the internationalism spirit of striving for the cause of peace and justice of humanity inspires us to oppose hegemonism and power politics, advocate for peaceful development and win-win cooperation, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)