The Forgotten Legacy of US–China Wartime Cooperation
Though often overlooked, US–China wartime cooperation left a maritime legacy that continues to shape Asia’s order today.
The dominant narrative about US–China relations today is one of rivalry, competition and hostility. Policymakers and commentators alike speak of ‘strategic competition’ or a ‘new Cold War’.
history shows that US–China relations have had moments of deep cooperation that continue to shape Asia’s maritime order in the 21st century.
Only eight decades ago, the United States and China stood side by side in a grand alliance against fascism. During the Second World War — what China and Russia often call the Anti-Fascist War — the United States, the Soviet Union, China and much of the West fought together against the Axis powers.
This was a moment of profound solidarity between the United States and China. Today, Washington courts Tokyo as a strategic partner to balance Beijing.
Author's summary: US-China wartime cooperation legacy remains.