Why did Trump and Xi seal a deal on World War II soldiers’ missing remains?
A decades-long effort by Beijing and Washington to recover the remains of US servicemen missing in China since World War II has resurfaced in the wake of the summit between the nations’ leaders. The commitment was included in an eight-point list of outcomes from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day state visit last week, alongside other agreements covering issues including artificial…
The convergence of World War II soldiers' missing remains and diplomatic relations between China and the United States has been a topic of interest following the summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump. The agreement to continue searching for the remains of US service members missing in China since the war was included in the outcomes of the summit.
Retired senior colonel in the People's Liberation Army, Zhou Bo, stated that such cooperation on this matter was politically one of the least controversial areas for collaboration. Xi and Trump had repeatedly invoked their countries' alliance during World War II, creating an opportunity for continued cooperation in a practical area that underscores their historical relationship.
The search for missing American servicemen in China began in the 1940s, with more than 120,000 American servicemen deployed to China during the 1940s. These servicemen were involved in providing air support, transporting supplies, and maintaining the Allied war effort. The US Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency has estimated that about 690 American personnel unaccounted for during World War II are believed to be located in China.
The renewed emphasis on history and cooperation also highlights the ongoing tensions between China and Japan over the latter's wartime legacy and contemporary security policies.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
