BEIJING: One of the most important aspects of the legacy of the late United States Army General Joseph Stilwell — his enduring bond with the Chinese people — continues to resonate strongly within his family and China’s top leadership.
The family’s engagements with China, which have spanned nine decades, were recently recognized by President Xi Jinping as he exchanged letters with John Easterbrook, the late general’s grandson.
“What struck me the most in President Xi’s letter was his words about General Stilwell being an old friend of the Chinese people, and that his contributions to the friendship between the Chinese people and the American people will always be remembered,” Easterbrook told China Daily.
This year marks the 140th anniversary of the birth of Stilwell, who fought side by side with the Chinese people while serving as commander of US forces in the China-Burma-India Theater from 1942 to 1944, during the latter part of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
Easterbrook recently wrote a letter to Xi, recalling Stilwell’s exchanges with China and the Chinese people, and sharing the efforts of Stilwell’s descendants to continue that friendship.
Xi replied to the letter on Aug 29 Easterbrook, 82, a retired Army colonel, said he was honored and moved by “President Xi stating that it was gratifying to him that the fifth generation of the Stilwell family is now carrying forward the cause of China-US friendship”.
“I was very impressed by President Xi’s strong support for people-to-people activities, his knowledge of the commemorative events recently held in Chongqing, and his humanity in noting that the fifth generation of the Stilwell family is being immersed in the Stilwell legacy,” he added.
In the letter, Xi said the foundation of China-US relations lies in the people, and the source of strength lies in the friendship between their peoples. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
