chinese ambassador to the united states xie feng: the spirit of the flying tigers is a valuable asset for both china and the united states
2024-09-04
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on september 3, 2024, chinese ambassador to the united states xie feng delivered a video speech at the opening ceremony of the "remember the heroes-flying tigers theme historical photo tour (nanjing)", pointing out that the flying tigers spirit, which transcends time and space and lasts forever, is our precious asset in the past, present and future.
the spirit of the flying tigers represents the courage and responsibility to uphold justice and defend peace. at the most difficult moment of the chinese war of resistance against japanese aggression, a group of ambitious american pilots disregarded their lives and flew thousands of miles to the main battlefield of the world anti-fascist war in the east, fighting for justice and peace together with the chinese military and civilians, fighting desperately with the vicious japanese invaders, shooting down more than 2,600 japanese military aircraft, opening up the hump route for transporting urgently needed supplies, and more than 2,000 flying tigers died heroically. in places where the flying tigers once fought, such as chongqing, kunming, and guilin, monuments and memorial halls still tell the moving story of china and the united states sharing the same hatred of the enemy and protecting peace.
the spirit of the flying tigers is engraved with the precious friendship of helping each other and sharing weal and woe. in the flames of world war ii, the chinese people spared no effort to rescue american pilots. more than 200 american pilots in distress were rescued, and thousands of chinese soldiers and civilians sacrificed their precious lives in the rescue. in order to rescue the pilots who made an emergency landing, the people of xinxiang, henan built a temporary runway of more than a thousand meters overnight under extremely difficult conditions; chinese soldiers and civilians in zhejiang, jiangxi and other places successfully rescued 64 pilots who participated in operation doolittle despite the crazy retaliation of the japanese army, creating a rescue miracle in the history of world war ii. the deep friendship between the chinese people and the flying tigers, forged with life and blood, has been passed down from generation to generation and will continue forever.
the spirit of the flying tigers carries the spiritual character of valuing friendship and continuing friendship. the chinese people cherish friendship and will never forget old friends. last november, during the apec leaders' informal meeting in san francisco, president xi jinping specially invited chairman green and moyer and other flying tigers veterans to meet and talk. the chinese say "the benevolent live long." last year, mr. moyer revisited his hometown, climbed the badaling great wall, and spent his 103rd birthday in china. he sang "auld lang syne" with the children, which was very touching. there was also a special part in today's opening ceremony - a ceremony to replace the name of lieutenant hamel, a member of the flying tigers who died. heroes are immortal. as general chennault hoped, the flying tigers logo is still flying high over the pacific ocean today.
