Pilot Given Title of Honor by CMC

Pilot Given Title of Honor by CMC

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The Central Military Commission (CMC) held a grandeur gathering Tuesday to honor Wang Wei, the pilot missing after the April 1 mid-air collision between a Chinese fighter and a US surveillance plane, as "Guardian of the Sea Waters and Airspace".

Present at the meeting was Chinese Vice President and Vice Chairman of the CMC Hu Jintao, along with CMC Vice Chairmen Zhang Wannian and Chi Haotian, and other CMC members.

Hu, who is also a member of both the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, met with the family members and representatives of the Navy unit of the lost pilot prior to the opening of the meeting.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Hu comforted the family members and representatives, saying that Wang has devoted his life to the motherland and the people and that the people will keep Wang in mind forever.


Pilot Given Title of Honor by CMC

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The meeting was opened to the sound of the National Anthem. CMC Vice-Chairman Chi, who is also the Minister of Defense, read a decree signed by CMC Chairman Jiang Zemin commending Wang.

Afterwards, CMC Vice-Chairman Zhang handed over Ruan Guoqin, widow of the pilot, a First-Grade Hero Medal and a certificate of honor. In his speech, Zhang asked the participants to stand in a three-minute silent tribute to the hero.

In related developments, the CPC Committee of the Chinese Navy has decided to launch a campaign among the Navy troops to learn from Wang, in order to make new contributions to safeguarding the state sovereignty and national dignity and realizing the reunification of the motherland.