After 36 years, over 50,000 personnel dispatched, honoring the "Chinese Blue Helmets" peacekeeping heroes

Original Title: Blue Helmets Reflect the Heart of Loyalty, Loyal Souls Protect Peace

—— A Tribute to the "Chinese Blue Helmets" Peacekeeping Heroes

On the eve of Qingming Festival, soldiers from the "Yang Gensi Company" of the 83rd Group Army lined up neatly at the Martyrs' Cemetery Memorial Square. The pines and cypresses stood silently, filled with sorrowful thoughts.

"Squad Leader Li Lei, Squad Leader Yang Shupeng, it has been exactly 10 years since you left us..." Squad Leader Xiao Rongji held a letter, his voice low. Each word was heartfelt, written for the old squad leaders. When he read, "The mountains and rivers are safe, the country is prosperous and the people are at peace," the soldiers present all had red eyes.

In times of peace, soldiers make sacrifices.

Since China first participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations in 1990, over the past 36 years, more than 50,000 peacekeeping personnel have been dispatched, producing "People's Hero" Shen Liangliang, peacekeeping martyrs Li Lei, Yang Shupeng, and 17 other soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the cause of peace. They have fulfilled their solemn vows to remain loyal to their mission and maintain world peace through their actions.

Going to war for peace, dedicating life to the mission

At the "Three Unbelieves" Hero Declaration Education Center of the 83rd Group Army's "Yang Gensi Company," a party application letter is on display. This was left by peacekeeping martyr Li Lei. In the application letter, he wrote: If one day I am gone, it is my own choice, and I have no regrets.

In 2016, the "Yang Gensi Company" received orders to participate in the formation of a peacekeeping infantry battalion and went to South Sudan to carry out peacekeeping tasks. On July 8, local time, the South Sudanese government forces and rebel armed groups engaged in fierce gunfire. This day was also the birthday of soldier Li Lei. Although the weather was hot, Li Lei still wore a thick bulletproof vest, carrying a load of over 20 kilograms.

On July 10, local time, after a day of duty, Li Lei voluntarily requested to stay on the front lines amidst the gunfire. During the mission, the No. 105 infantry fighting vehicle was destroyed. On the ambulance, then-deputy squad leader Tian Feiheng held Li Lei. Halfway through, Li Lei suddenly gripped Tian Feiheng's hand tightly and said to him, "Squad Leader Tian, I have dedicated my life to the Party." This was Li Lei's last words.

Peacekeeping soldier Yang Shupeng, who sacrificed alongside Li Lei, was not scheduled to participate in the duty that day, but he approached the company commander and said, "I am a 15-year veteran and an 11-year Party member. At this critical moment, how can I stay in the rear? I must go!" Thus, Yang Shupeng rushed to the post again. After the No. 105 infantry fighting vehicle was attacked by artillery, seven soldiers on board were injured to varying degrees, and Li Lei and Yang Shupeng succumbed to their injuries despite rescue efforts.

Going to war for peace, dedicating life to the mission.

In overseas peacekeeping missions, 17 Chinese peacekeeping soldiers, 17 young lives, are forever frozen on foreign soil. They either sacrificed their lives during missions, perished in airstrikes, or died from illness in the mission area... The heroes proved through their actions that Chinese soldiers are always warriors who go to war for peace.

The motherland will not forget, the people will not forget

"Dad Shen, Mom Yang, we are here to see you!" In Wenxian, Henan, the warm greetings broke the morning tranquility.

In a simple living room, Tang Honghua, a soldier from the same unit as Shen Liangliang, stood tall and solemnly presented the martyr's party application letter and peacekeeping application letter to the martyr's family.

The two application letters were neatly written and heartfelt, filled with an excellent soldier's unwavering loyalty to the Party and steadfast pursuit of the peacekeeping cause. Looking at his son's familiar handwriting, Shen Liangliang's father, Shen Tianguo, had tears in his eyes: "Liangliang has aspired to serve the country since he was a child, and he did it. We are proud of him..."

On May 31, 2016, peacekeeping soldier Shen Liangliang was attacked by terrorists while carrying out peacekeeping tasks in Mali. In a critical moment, he issued a warning and pushed his comrades away at the moment of the explosion, sacrificing his life at the young age of 29.

Peacekeeping heroes dedicate their lives for peace; the motherland will not forget, the people will not forget.

At the martyrs' cemetery where the battalion is stationed, guide Zhang Shuo looked at Shen Liangliang's belongings in the display case and affectionately introduced to the students: "Shen Liangliang is a hero of the army and also a hero in my heart. When we welcomed the hero home, everyone took to the streets to send Shen Liangliang on his final journey."

"Uncle Shen Liangliang, you are a great hero! I will study hard and grow up to defend the motherland like you." In the exhibition hall's guestbook, a primary school student's childish handwriting expressed admiration for the hero. Every year, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life come to this cemetery to pay tribute to the "People's Heroes" who sacrificed for world peace.

The flowers in the exhibition hall are updated daily, never ceasing, just like people's memories, enduring year after year, never fading. Heroes may fall, but their lives will be immortal and will always be remembered.

The year Shen Liangliang sacrificed, the 2-kilometer road in Wang Village, southwest of Wenxian, was named "Liangliang Road," and the cultural square was renamed "Liangliang Square." Later, Wenxian also built a memorial hall in the name of Shen Liangliang.

What falls is the body, what stands is the spirit

The martyrs look back and should smile in comfort; the flag will be held high by future generations.

At the end of 2020, the Henan opera "Shen Liangliang" took the stage. When it performed in Wenxian, villagers from ten miles around came to watch.

In the cold wind, a student named Wang Jinzhe accompanied his grandfather to the stage. The battlefield heroism and heroic deeds of Shen Liangliang deeply moved Wang Jinzhe. On the way back, he said to his grandfather, "Grandpa, I also want to be a soldier."

Later, the unit where Shen Liangliang served recruited new soldiers from Wenxian, and Wang Jinzhe was delighted to join the camp of the company where Shen Liangliang once served by the Songhua River.

In that company, the first lesson for new soldiers was to learn about Shen Liangliang's advanced deeds, and the first book they read was "The Story Collection of Shen Liangliang." Every evening during roll call, the first name called was Shen Liangliang, and all soldiers responded in unison, "Present"… The spirit of the hero influenced the soldiers in the company. One deep night, Wang Jinzhe wrote a motto in his notebook: "I come from the hometown of heroes and want to be a successor to the heroes."

Wang Jinzhe found that his comrades around him were all inspired by the spirit of the heroes. In August 2023, when the station faced rare flooding disasters, everyone volunteered to fight. While rescuing the local people, they charged at the forefront of danger, building a solid defense line.

What falls is the body, what stands is the spirit. To carry forward the spirit of the martyrs means to strive tirelessly and forever on the path they opened with their lives and blood.

China actively supports United Nations peacekeeping operations and is one of the main funding countries for UN peacekeeping actions, as well as the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the Security Council.

Whether it is the sacrificed peacekeeping heroes Shen Liangliang, Li Lei, Yang Shupeng, or other Chinese soldiers who remain steadfast in overseas peacekeeping positions, for 36 years, the "Chinese Blue Helmets" have always maintained professionalism, efficiency, rigorous training, and strict discipline, receiving widespread acclaim.

"In the Chinese peacekeeping soldiers, we see the greatest virtues of the Chinese nation: kindness and wisdom. Thank you, China, for making the world a better place," a UN official once commented.

Peace is like air and sunlight, beneficial yet unnoticed; once lost, it is hard to sustain.

Today, the "Chinese Blue Helmets" have become a key force in UN peacekeeping operations. The Chinese military will continue to support UN peacekeeping actions, fulfill the solemn commitment to safeguard peace, bring more confidence to conflict areas, and give local people greater hope.