The Flying Tigers remain a powerful emblem of Sino-American cooperation during WWII, celebrated in China through education and public diplomacy while largely remembered in the U.S. by niche groups like veterans and aviation enthusiasts. Divergent national narratives have created differing understandings of their role, with limited efforts to harmonize these perspectives. Civic initiatives on both sides keep the legacy alive through cultural exchanges and youth programs, emphasizing shared sacrifice. At the diplomatic level, references to the Flying Tigers—such as President Xi's mention before the Woodside Summit—are used as symbolic gestures to ease tensions, though experts warn against hollow historicism without substantive follow-up. Beyond the Flying Tigers, other historical ties like medical missions and educational scholarships have also helped sustain mutual understanding amid strategic competition. These people-to-people connections, supported by cultural storytelling and institutional memory, offer resilience in times of political friction and underscore the enduring value of human bonds in international relations.