Four Chinese soldiers, who died during a border confrontation in June 2020, were posthumously awarded honorary titles and first-class merit citations, the Central Military Commission (CMC) announced on Friday.
The CMC unveiled names and stories of the martyrs for the first time to commemorate their sacrifice for defending national sovereignty and territory. Chen Hongjun was awarded the honorary title of "hero" for defending national territory. Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran were awarded first-class merit citations.
Qi Fabao, a colonel who led the soldiers, was seriously wounded during the clashes. Qi was conferred with the honorary title of "hero colonel."
According to China's Ministry of National Defense, the confrontation started in April, when the foreign army trespassed at the border and attempted to unilaterally build facilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The situation escalated in June, when the foreign army, in violation of the agreement reached between the two sides, once again stepped over the LAC for deliberate provocation and violently attacked the Chinese officers and soldiers who went there for negotiations, thus triggering fierce fistfights.
In response, Chinese border troops took decisive countermeasures in self-defense, resolutely fought back against the violent acts and effectively safeguarded China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the ministry's spokesperson.
