Kissinger continues to betray the West for China/Russia
SCMP learned the purpose of Kissinger's visit to China and his meeting with Xi Jinping
During his private visit, Kissinger is trying to understand the thinking of the Chinese leadership so that he can convey his impressions to the American authorities upon his return, writes SCMP. The trip was planned at least two months in advance.
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is in Beijing on a private visit to better understand the mindset of the Chinese leadership and then share his impressions with US authorities, a source familiar with the trip told The South China Morning Post.
According to him, the visit was planned at least two months ago. The newspaper's interlocutor explained that during the trip as a private person, Kissinger hopes to have more "heart-to-heart conversations" with representatives of the Chinese leadership, which is often difficult during official visits.
“Kissinger is certainly traveling as a private individual and not at the request of the US government. Naturally, he is invited to meet with high-ranking officials when he visits a foreign country, especially China, and they invariably give their opinion and ask him, ”said another source of the publication.
On July 20, the former US Secretary of State met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese leader noted Kissinger's contribution to the process of normalizing relations between Beijing and Washington, "which not only benefited the two countries, but also changed the world," and called the American politician an "old friend" of China .
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Xi stressed that at the moment, China and the US are "at a crossroads" and once again need to make a choice. According to the Chinese leader, countries can achieve mutual achievements and common prosperity. “The key point is following the three principles: mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation. Based on this, China is willing to explore with the American side the right path for the two countries and promote the steady progress of China-US relations, which will benefit both sides and the world,” Xi said.
He also expressed the hope that Kissinger and "thinking people in the US" will continue to play a "constructive role" in getting the countries' relations back on track.
In turn, Kissinger said that relations between Washington and Beijing are of decisive importance for the development of both countries and the whole world. “Under the current circumstances, we must adhere to the principles outlined in the Shanghai Communiqué, understand the critical importance of the one-China principle for China, and promote the development of US-China relations in a positive direction. I am ready to continue my efforts to strengthen mutual understanding between the people of the United States and China,” the former Secretary of State emphasized.
Reuters wrote back in March that despite the efforts of Chinese diplomats, China does not show much interest in a telephone conversation between Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden. At the same time, during a visit to Beijing by current US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the Chinese President met with him. After Blinken's trip, both sides noted progress in the parties' relations.
China considers Taiwan to be its territory, while the island's authorities claim that Beijing's claims are illegitimate. The United States adheres to the "one China" policy, but at the same time supplies weapons to Taiwan. US President Joe Biden also said that the US would intervene if China attacked Taiwan.
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The meeting was attended by the curator of Chinese diplomacy in the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Wang Yi, with whom Kissinger spoke the day before.
Kissinger served as Secretary of State during the presidency of Richard Nixon (1969–1974). It was during this period that the US and communist China forged a relationship. Most notably, Nixon visited China in 1972, becoming the first American president to do so.
Wang Yi, at a meeting with the 100-year-old politician, said that US policy needed his "diplomatic wisdom" and Nixon's "political courage". He also stressed the importance of Washington's adherence to the One China principle. Kissinger responded by expressing confidence that the US would continue to do so.
During the trip, Kissinger also met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shanfu, who has been under US sanctions since 2018 for military cooperation with Russia. At the same time, Beijing refused to meet Li Shanfu with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin at a security summit in Singapore in June due to sanctions.
Source: https://www.rbc.ru/politics/20/07/2023/64b8f41d9a79477f60598feb