Nanfang Daily, Nanfang Plus:

Among the fourth batch of the newly announced lists, which heroes or memorial facilities have left a deep impression on you? Could you share some of them with us? Thank you.

Ma Feixiong:

Thank you for your question. During the arduous and protracted War of Resistance, all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation fought for the survival of the country, for the rejuvenation of the nation, and for human justice. The extensive social mobilization, profound national awakening, tenacious fighting will and unwavering belief in victory can be said to have reached an unprecedented height. Every heroic deed within the fourth batch of lists is deeply moving and awe-inspiring.

Looking at the famous heroes and martyrs, the average age at which they sacrificed their lives was under 35. Among them are patriotic generals, such as Zheng Shaoyu, a senior commander of the Sino-American Composite Wing (SACW), who served as a captain in the 24th Squadron of the 4th Air Group. He made numerous achievements in the August 14 Air Battle, the Wuhan Air Battle and the Liuzhou Air Battle, dying in the line of duty in 1942. He was also an outstanding member of the CPC. There are combat heroes, such as Liu Mingqin, battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 17th Regiment of the Eighth Route Army's Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region. He was a valiant fighter and led his troops to inflict heavy losses on the Japanese army many times. He was commended by Zhu De, the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, and Peng Dehuai, the deputy commander-in-chief. There are young warriors, such as Wang He, a member of the Children's League. Wang He is one of the prototypes of the little hero "Wang Erxiao" in the well-known song "Singing of the Cowherd Boy – Erxiao." The author was inspired by the members of the Children's League, represented by Wang He, who delivered messages, stood guard for the armed forces, and sacrificed their young lives. The author then created this revolutionary song, which has been passed down to this day. There were patriotic overseas Chinese, such as Yi Guangyan, who led overseas Chinese to actively carry out the national salvation movement and donated money and materials to his homeland for the War of Resistance. Later, he was assassinated by pro-Japanese spies in Thailand. There are also international friends, such as Alexander Orekhov, a Soviet pilot who came to aid China, and Gisela Muntianu, a nurse of the Romanian medical team aiding China. They traveled thousands of miles to China and sacrificed their precious lives for the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Regarding the memorial facilities and sites, there are those that showcase the nationwide War of Resistance, such as the Memorial Hall of the Eighth Route Army Office in Luoyang, Henan province. Comrades like Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai visited this office many times to give guidance. Comrade Liu Shaoqi drafted the manuscript of "How to Be a Good Communist" here. There are those that bear witness to the victory of the War of Resistance, such as the former site of the headquarters building of the First Army of the Japanese North China Area Army during the Invasion of China in Taiyuan, Shanxi province. This was one of the 16 sites in China that the Japanese surrendered, and was where the Japanese army in Shanxi, Suiyuan, and other places surrendered to the then Second War Zone. There are those that record the bloody history of Japan's invasion of China, such as the Memorial Site for the Deceased Miners at Mount Xuelei (Blood and Tears) in Shiren town, Baishan city, Jilin province, which records Japan's numerous crimes during its aggression against China, including enslaving Chinese laborers, persecuting the Chinese people and plundering Chinese resources. There are also those that reflect the Chinese military's overseas combat, such as a monument in northern Myanmar's Myitkyina, dedicated to soldiers of the Chinese Expeditionary Force. It houses the remains of 347 fallen soldiers of the Chinese Expeditionary Force and records the significant contributions of the Chinese people to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.

In short, the fourth batch of renowned heroes, martyrs and heroic groups represents diverse types of heroic figures. At the same time, the newly designated memorial facilities and historical sites are distributed widely across the country. This showcases the CPC's role as the mainstay in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, demonstrates the grand history of the entire Chinese nation's resistance against Japanese aggression, and reflects the historical reality that the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression opened the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War. Thank you.