China hands over remains of US pilots killed in World War II

The Chinese military on Tuesday handed over to the US the remains of American pilots who died while supporting China's fight against Japanese forces during World War II.

The handover ceremony took place in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern Sichuan province, Chinese state broadcaster CGTN reported.

According to China's Defence Ministry, the remains were recovered from areas along the historic Hump Route, a wartime air corridor linking India and China.

Beijing said it had worked with Washington for years on humanitarian efforts to locate the remains of missing American military personnel.

The ministry expressed its willingness to continue cooperating to recover wartime remains, describing the efforts as a reflection of the two countries' shared history in the fight against Japan.

The Hump Route served as a vital supply corridor during World War II, carrying military supplies from British India across the Himalayas into China after Japanese forces disrupted overland routes.

American transport aircraft flew hazardous missions over mountainous terrain and through unpredictable weather, suffering heavy losses.

The airlift provided a crucial supply line for Chinese forces resisting Japan from 1942 to 1945.

TRT World / Anadolu Agency — TRT World / Anadolu Agency

Photo: AFP