U.S.-China Conference Discusses Past, Present Relations

By Jim E. Winburn

An opening night reception and banquet on Friday kicked off a weekend of discussions and events for the U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association Western Regional Conference at the Hilton Los Angeles in San Gabriel.
The Oct. 26-28 conference sought to celebrate U.S.-China relations by reflecting on the past and looking at the present.
“Our objective is to reflect on, enhance and to maintain the positive relationship that exists between the people of the U.S. and China,” said conference co-chair Jason J. Lee, highlighting the importance of the history and culture shared by both American and Chinese dignitaries, educators, and authors through a weekend of seminars.
Much of the opening night remarks had to do with amending past relations with Chinese Americans. For many at the dinner, President Nixon’s visit to China in 1972 marked the beginning of working toward more positive relations with Chinese Americans, according to Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Alhambra), who served as mayor and city councilman of Monterey Park.
“If we as Americans can have friendships, can accept, can value relationships of Chinese people thousands of miles from here, then it must be acceptable to have Chinese Americans as friends in the United States of America,” Eng said. “And let me tell you that that relationship is still developing.”
Eng’s wife, Congresswoman Judy Chu for California’s 32nd District, also provided sobering remarks on the first day of the conference. She offered a history lesson on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which, according to Chu, prevented Chinese immigrants from becoming naturalized citizens, thus making Chinese “scapegoats for the Americans here.”
Reminding her listeners that Americans of all backgrounds have fought long and hard to create a nation of tolerance, the congresswoman said, “It was the relationship between the U.S. and China that actually got that act repealed in the first place. So, we must know that we have to value that relationship.”
Keeping with the topic of American moral courage, Congresswoman Chu explained how the U.S. had reached across the ocean to help a war-battered China during World War II. Commanded by General Claire Lee Chennault, the Flying Tigers’ unofficial joint military operation with the Chinese was organized to help the Chinese in their fight against the Japanese invasion.
“That was the only way to do it, because the U.S. was not officially at war with Japan,” said the congresswoman. “There were many who volunteered for the fighting, including Chinese Americans… So, I am reminded how strong our relationship is between the U.S. and China, and of the courage of so many who fought in that particular war and flew with the Flying Tigers.”
The chairman of the Flying Tigers Historical Association, Major General James T. Whitehead, Jr., USAF (Retired), said that by “Honoring past friendships and strengthening future people-to-people relationships” members of the Friendship Association have adapted the very principles and spirit demonstrated by the Flying Tigers in World War II.
Keynote speakers at the conference included Ms. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Qui Shaofang, Consul General of The People’s Republic of China to Los Angeles; and Nell Calloway, the granddaughter of The Flying Tigers Commander, General Claire Lee Chennault.
For more information about the USCPFA Western Regional Conference, visit USCPFAWR.org, or visit ChennaultMuseum.org to view the Chennault Military and Aviation Museum.
More details about the Flying Tigers Heritage Park can be found at FlyingTigerHistoricalOrganization.com.

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