Du Zhaoyu

Du Zhaoyu (November 1972 — 25 July 2006) was a lieutenant colonel in the Chinese People's Liberation Army who served as member of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. He was killed by an Israeli bombing of the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon on 25 July 2006, during the 2006 Lebanon War.

Early life Born in 1972 in Huantai County in Zibo, Shandong, with ancestral home in Jing County, Hebei, Du attended primary school in Jinan. After graduating from primary school in 1984, he continued with his studies at Jinan No. 7 Middle School. He graduated from high school there in July 1990.

Military career Upon graduation from high school in 1990, Du was admitted to the International Relations College of the People's Liberation Army and in 1993, he became a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In 1994 after graduating with undergraduate degree in 1994, he studied for a master's degree at the School of International Relations of the People's Liberation Army. In July 1997, he graduated with a master's degree from the school and served as staff officer of the Ministry of National Defense of China, and secretary to the military attaché at the Chinese Embassy in India.

Death On the evening of 25 July 2006, local time (during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War), Israel bombed an observation post of the United Nations peacekeeping force in the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon. Du Zhaoyu and three other United Nations observers died.

Du's body arrived in China on 2 August. His memorial service at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery was attended by Hu Jintao and other top military and civilian officials. On 29 August 2006, he was posthumously awarded the First class of the Meritorious Service Medal and on 30 May 2007, he was posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.

A memorial honoring Du and three other UN observers who were killed on 25 July 2006 is located at the village of Khiam. On 2021, more than 50 people including UNIFL personnel and Chinese Embassy in Lebanon staff paid tribute to Du at the memorial.