Guangxi Hosts Dialogue Commemorating 85th Anniversary of Flying Tigers

On July 21, 2026, a dialogue commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Flying Tigers' aid to China was held in Liuzhou, Guangxi. Attended by over 200 representatives from both nations—including Flying Tigers descendants, diplomats, and students—the event featured the launch of a new research network and the signing of friendship school agreements. Amid complex bilateral relations, both sides emphasized leveraging this shared historical legacy to foster youth exchanges and grassroots diplomacy.

In the context of complex fluctuations in US-China relations, the history of the Flying Tigers serves as a vital bridge for people-to-people diplomacy and youth exchanges, highlighting historical cooperation to foster goodwill.

On July 21, 2026, a dialogue commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Flying Tigers' aid to China during the War of Resistance against Japanese aggression was held in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region [6a5f78afb7627b1f92495271]. The event brought together over 200 participants from both China and the United States, including local government officials from 16 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, alongside Flying Tigers descendants, representatives from the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, and officials from the US Consulate General in Guangzhou [6a5f78afb7627b1f92495271]. During the event, Chinese and American youth jointly read the "Sino-US 'New Era Flying Tigers' Initiative" [6a5f78afb7627b1f92495271]. Organizers also launched the "Flying Tigers Lecture Hall," established the "Flying Tigers Spirit Non-governmental Research Network," and signed agreements establishing multiple pairs of Flying Tigers friendship schools [6a5f78afb7627b1f92495271]. Guangxi, which served as a core operational area for the Flying Tigers, preserves historical relics such as barracks and command towers, and hosts a permanent exhibition in Liuzhou showcasing over a thousand artifacts and historical photographs [6a5f78afb7627b1f92495271]. Descendants of the historical pilots attended the commemoration. Josh Anselm Vinyard and Micah Caine Vinyard, grandsons of the "Hump Route" pilot Jay Vinyard, used interactive technology at the exhibition to experience the treacherous flight paths their grandfather took [6a5f78afb7627b1f92495271]. Micah Caine Vinyard noted that his grandfather completed 87 missions flying over the Hump to deliver aid to China [6a5f78afb7627b1f92495271]. Educational exchanges have also expanded; the "Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and Youth Leadership Program" has facilitated visits to China for over 500 American youth and connected more than 100 schools across nearly 40 Chinese and US states and provinces [6a5f78afb7627b1f92495271]. Nathan Boemer, an American student visiting China for the third consecutive year, remarked that the Flying Tigers' legacy serves as a reminder that this friendship should be preserved across generations [6a5f78afb7627b1f92495271].