On the early morning of April 5th, US Eastern Time, President Trump announced that the second aircrew member of the F-15E fighter jet, who recently went missing in Iran’s territory, has been successfully rescued. According to reports from US media, over 100 special operations personnel and 155 aircraft were mobilized for the search and rescue operation of the second aircrew member. This operation has drawn significant attention not only for its rescue scale but also for a fundamental principle upheld by the US military: leaving no one behind.
Chinese affairs expert and host of “Henghe Commentary” program Henghe pointed out in an interview with NTD TV that the spirit of “leave no one behind” is one of the core reasons for the strength of the US military.
Henghe stated that the US is not a country with mandatory military service, as most military personnel volunteer to serve. Therefore, for the military personnel to be willing to risk their lives to fulfill missions, they must believe that no matter where they are, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, the country will come to rescue them.
In Henghe’s view, this commitment is not just an emotional issue but also a crucial source of unity and combat readiness for the military. Soldiers are willing to sacrifice for their country not only out of obedience but also because they believe the country will stand behind them. Thus, what the US military upholds is not just strict military orders but a deep-seated trust of soldiers in their country and military.
Henghe also cited examples from World War II when many American pilots operated missions in China and the Himalayan air routes, with some of them crashing and resting in remote locations. Even after the subsequent years, the US continued to search for the remains of those missing pilots and was willing to invest significant manpower and resources to retrieve the remains from mountainous areas. This attitude of “seeing flesh or bones” for soldiers is a vital embodiment of the US military’s spirit and tradition.
Henghe believes that the strength of the US military is not only reflected in its weaponry and combat capabilities but also in its underlying value system. While planes can be rebuilt, and equipment losses can be replenished, the conviction accumulated by a military over the years, once shattered, cannot be quickly regained. The significance of this rescue operation lies in showcasing that the US military’s advantage lies not only in hardware but also in its spirit, traditions, and institutions.
Furthermore, Henghe pointed out that if rebuilding a military force is a multi-layered process, changes in hardware combat power cannot undergo drastic transformations within a short period of one year. The factors that can rapidly change are leadership and morale. He believed that the success of this operation reflects these two factors. From the overall unity of the troops to the willingness of the higher-ups to take risks and make difficult decisions at critical moments, it shows the US military’s recovery in spirit and command.
Henghe emphasized that such a rescue decision itself entailed significant risks. No one knew if it would ultimately succeed, and in case of failure, not only might there be greater losses but also strong criticism. However, the willingness to invest significant costs to save a missing personnel despite such potential outcomes precisely demonstrates respect for life and reflects the responsibility of a leader.
“From this perspective, this operation is not only impressive because it succeeded, but also because it consolidated multiple forces: the belief in survival, faith in God, the commitment of the country as a backing, and respect for life itself. It is under the combined influence of these factors that such a miracle became possible,” Henghe remarked.
On the other hand, the reaction to this incident in mainland China’s public opinion stands in stark contrast to the outside world. Despite Trump’s public statement that the US military successfully found and rescued the missing servicemen, Chinese state media still quoted Iranian reports claiming that the US military’s mission to rescue the pilot “failed” and attempted to bomb the pilot, sparking skepticism online.
In response, senior researcher at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Shen Mingshi believes that this is a typical case of “viewing others’ actions through a biased lens.” When a regime long regards life in a cold, utilitarian manner, it becomes easy to speculate on others with a similar logic. He pointed out that the CCP has long been anticipating the US to encounter setbacks in overseas conflicts, whether falling into protracted warfare, reliving scenarios akin to the Vietnam War, or eventually withdrawing troops as seen in Afghanistan and Iraq. These narratives align with its consistent expectations. Therefore, when results contradictory to these expectations emerge, relevant discourse tends to reinterpret events in a distorted manner.
Shen Mingshi stated that the most challenging aspect for the CCP to understand is precisely why the US is willing to expend such immense costs just to rescue a parachuting aircrew member. In the political and military education of the CCP, soldiers are often viewed as expendable resources, tools to complete missions, rather than individuals requiring full protection.
He further illustrated this point with the example of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. At that time, with inadequate equipment, supplies, and winter clothing, soldiers were still required to compensate for the lack of firepower with manpower, exchanging significant casualties for tactical objectives. This approach fundamentally does not prioritize soldiers’ lives. In contrast, the US military’s logic of warfare aims to first mitigate risks using firepower and technology, then advance the troops, minimizing casualties wherever possible. This disparity is not just a tactical difference but also represents two entirely distinct military cultures and perspectives on life.
Therefore, Shen Mingshi believes that although such discrediting narratives may find a certain market within China, they ultimately struggle to withstand the facts themselves. As an increasing number of specific details come to light, people will realize that the profound impact of this rescue operation lies not only in its success but also in showcasing a country’s willingness to what extent it is willing to go to protect its own people.
It’s worth noting that on platform X, an Iranian individual, upon seeing the US military successfully rescue the aircrew personnel, wrote, “The current Islamic Republic simply does not care about human life; this is the cruelest difference: one side willing to take enormous risks to save their citizens, while the other, in order to maintain power, is willing to sacrifice their own citizens. When you see these two realities simultaneously, the impact on the heart is immense.”
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[Discussing the News] Trump: Destroying Iran overnight, completed within 4 hours.