国内英语新闻:China honors servicemen martyred, injured in defending western border

BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's military authorities have honored two officers and three soldiers, including four who received the awards posthumously, for defending the country's western border.

The People's Liberation Army Daily on Friday reported that the Central Military Commission issued commendations to the servicemen for their role in bravely fighting back hostilities provoked by foreign forces at the Galwan Valley.

The title of "border-defending hero" was conferred on Battalion Commander Chen Hongjun posthumously, while Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran received first-class merit. They all died in a clash with trespassing foreign military personnel wielding steel tubes, cudgels and stones last June.

Qi Fabao, who was seriously injured in the skirmish, received the title of "hero regiment commander for defending the border."

The motherland and the people will always remember the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives and sustained injuries for the nation, and their family members will be rendered proper care, said Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, when responding to a query about the honored servicemen.

The Chinese border troops have faithfully safeguarded the country's territory and sovereignty as well as peace and tranquility in the China-India border areas, Ren added.

Indian troops crossed the Line of Actual Control illegally last June to spark provocation, and violently attacked the Chinese personnel who were there for negotiation, Ren said, stressing that India should bear full responsibility for deliberately triggering conflict at the Galwan Valley and causing casualties.

After the conflict, China exercised restraint for the sake of overall relations between the two countries and the armed forces, and took measures to ease tensions, Ren said.

However, the Indian side repeatedly exaggerated and stirred up the casualties, distorted the truth, misled international public opinions, and slandered Chinese border troops, Ren added.

Chinese media coverage of the heroic deeds is objective and will help the international community learn about the truth and distinguish right from wrong, Ren noted.

China's position on the boundary issue with India is consistent, clear, and sincere, Ren said, adding that China has always been committed to resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation and working towards cooling down the situation in a bid to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas as soon as possible.