China fetes American veterans of World War II known as 'Flying Tigers' in a bid to improve ties

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News/AP

October 30, 2023, 6:47 AM


BEIJING -- China on Monday feted two American veterans of World War II as Washington and Beijing look to past collaboration for inspiration on improving today's strained ties.

Mel McMullen, who is in his late 90s, and Harry Moyer, who turned 103 on Monday, are among the few surviving members of a U.S. Army Air Force command that helped China battle Japan and became popularly known as the Flying Tigers.

Their visit is the latest in a small but expanding series of exchanges ahead of a possible meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping next month, as the United States and China try to repair a relationship that has deteriorated sharply over differences on trade, technology, security and human rights.

McMullen recounted how Chinese farmers saved the lives of downed American pilots, hiding them by day and moving them from village to village by night, despite the risk of severe punishment by the Japanese. “I think that’s something we should all understand,” he said at a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/china-fetes-american-veterans-world-war-ii-flying-104471787

[Irish_Dem]

1. Why is China suddenly making nice with the US??

[Mysterian]

2. Why would they not?

We are their #1 customer.

[Marthe48]

3. Maybe they stopped drinking orange poison

Writing on the wall the powers that be understand?

[sarcasmo]

4. "Chinese economy is in trouble." Link below

"Youth unemployment is so bad that China has stopped publishing data."




https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/21/economy/china-economy-troubles-intl-hnk/index.html

[Irish_Dem]

8. The Chinese economy has been bad for some time now.

Youth unemployment is the least of it.

The worse the Chinese economy gets, the more they saber rattle.

So why now.

I don't trust their intentions.

[ificandream]

5. Wow. This is quite a surprise.

Anything that eases international tensions is a good thing.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Yup some of these nation states were our allies at one point or another

Would be nice if respect for that broke out.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Hoo boy, Reich Wingers are going to go bananas about any Biden-China rapprochement. . nt

[Irish_Dem]

9. China is transactional. If they make nice, they will want something in return.

Last edited Tue Oct 31, 2023, 07:50 PM - Edit history (1)

The Chinese call this guanxi 关系.

[lostnfound]

11. With Biden, this means the US will get something useful

With Trump, it would have meant he would have handed over US nuclear secrets for secret bank accounts or patents for Ivankas handbags…

[Irish_Dem]

12. Yes Biden is nobody's fool and will fully expect something valuable in return.

We have learned that Biden is superb at twisting arms.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall.

And if Biden is really clever he may do Xi a favor and ask for no payment.
Let Xi swing with that for a bit. He owes Biden who can call in the debt at any time.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. fllying tigers history and its impact on china during ww2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Tigers

[Irish_Dem]

13. I saw a Flying Tiger airplane when I was quite young.

My father was career USAF and loved the FTs. He had flown the Burma Hump
in WWII and had heard of and seen FTs.

One day he drove us out to the flight line in Merced CA, Castle AFB.
He pulled up right to the fence in front of the FT airplane.

My brother and I were young, and we were quite upset to see this airplane
with the vicious teeth and markings. It looked like half airplane, half animal.

My dad wanted to stay and look at the plane,
but we started crying and Mom said it was time to go.

We saw AF planes all the time living on base, and driving past the flight line.
We were used to them, but the Flying Tiger was horrific in our little minds.