The ground in Liuzhou, Guangxi, was twice shaken on May 18 by 5.2 magnitude earthquakes that disrupted the lives of thousands. While the initial tremors caused immediate concern across the region, the response that followed highlighted an enduring, historical bond that transcends modern geopolitical tensions. In an act of transnational solidarity, the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation (SAAHF) mobilized quickly to provide both financial and material aid to the affected communities.
In partnership with the Guangxi Weilemei Catering Group and the Guangxi Overseas Chinese Love Foundation, the SAAHF contributed 100,000 RMB in cash along with an equivalent value in disaster relief supplies. This intervention was spearheaded by Jeffrey Greene, the foundation's chairman, who drew upon his own experiences with seismic disasters in Southern California to empathize with the residents of Liuzhou. For Greene and his organization, the aid was not merely a humanitarian gesture but a fulfillment of a historical debt to a city that once sheltered American pilots.
Liuzhou holds a sacred place in the annals of Sino-American military history as one of the primary bases for the 'Flying Tigers'—the American Volunteer Group led by General Claire Chennault. During the dark days of 1942, Liuzhou Airport served as a critical logistics and transit hub for crews fighting against Japanese forces. The city became a symbol of shared sacrifice, where American aviators and Chinese civilians worked side-by-side to secure the skies over southern China.
This recent charitable effort serves as a modern extension of the 'Flying Tigers spirit,' characterized by mutual assistance and bravery across borders. Tian Fengchen, an executive director of the foundation, noted that the donation aims to keep this historical fire burning in the hearts of younger generations. By leveraging the shared memory of wartime cooperation, these organizations are ensuring that the legacy of the Flying Tigers remains a living, breathing component of contemporary US-China people-to-people diplomacy.