The story of the “Flying Tigers”, a squadron of American volunteers who fought alongside the Chinese during World War II, continues to fascinate and be celebrated in China. This historical reference today takes on a political and diplomatic dimension, as a meeting between Chinese Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden approaches.
Chinese state media, such as China Daily, Global Times and Xinhua News Agency, paid special attention to the American “Flying Tigers” veterans during their recent visit to China. The details of their ten-day stay were widely covered by these media, which presented them as heroes and symbols of cooperation between China and the United States.
The active participation of these American pilots in the defense of China against Japan from 1941 to 1942 arouses deep respect and gratitude towards them. President Xi Jinping himself praised their spirit of cooperation and stressed the importance of a new generation of “Flying Tigers” to nurture China-US relations.
This highlighting of the story of the “Flying Tigers” is far from trivial. It comes as an important meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden approaches, where delicate subjects and tensions between the two countries will be discussed. China is thus seeking to send a clear message: it wants discussions with the United States to take place in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.
By relying on this historical reference, China seeks to create a symbolic link between the past and the present, highlighting the historical friendship between the two countries in the face of a common enemy. It is also a way for Xi Jinping to position himself on the right side of History, highlighting China’s struggle against the Japanese invader and the tyranny at the time.
For the Chinese government, which regularly uses History to justify its political actions, the celebration of the “Flying Tigers” is an effective way of subtly conveying several messages. It strengthens the sense of friendship and collaboration between China and the United States, while easing current tensions.
China’s fascination with the “Flying Tigers” is shared on both sides of the Pacific. In China, these pilots are honored and a museum is even dedicated to them. In the United States, they were brought to light thanks to a 1942 film, “Flying Tigers”, in which John Wayne played.
In conclusion, the story of the “Flying Tigers” continues to arouse admiration and recognition in China. It is used for political purposes to create a symbolic link between the past and the present, and to foster Sino-American relations marked by cooperation and mutual respect.. This historical reference also underlines China’s desire to position itself on the right side of History, recalling its fight against the Japanese invader during the Second World War.
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