Chinese winning of the war and taking of the island in 1969 made the US government realize that China could become their strategic partner in its confrontation with the Soviet Union. The war led to the secret visit by Henry Kissinger to China in 1971 and the visit by Richard Nixon to China in 1972. And subsequently the opening of US door to China in 1970s later and which led to the opening of Chinese door to the outside world and the beginning of the Chinese reform, which eventually made China what it is today. 

After talking to the Chinese soldiers and my fellow travelers, I come to the conclusion that a successful international cooperation comes with common interests, not necessarily from common values.