As reported The Guardian, today, on July 18, 2023, veteran American diplomacy Henry Kissinger met in Beijing with defence minister Chin Li Shangfu.
According to a message from the Chinese Ministry of Defence, Minister Li Shangfu stated during the gathering that “friendly communication” between China and the US was “destroyed” due to the fact that “some people in the United States cannot meet China halfway”. Kissinger in turn stated that he considered himself a friend of China.
Li Shangfu (born February 1958) is an aviation and cosmonautics engineer and general of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Li is presently the State Councillor of the People's Republic of China and Minister of National Defence (since March 2023). He is besides a associate of the Central Military Commission (CMC).“Neither the United States nor China can afford to treat the another side as an opponent. If both countries turn against each another and go to war, nothing good will come of it for both nations," said Kissinger according to the Chinese side's message.
Unexpected Visit 100 years old The erstwhile U.S. Secretary of State takes place at a time erstwhile John Kerry, an American Climate Envoy, meets Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss how both countries can cooperate in the fight against the climate crisis. Kerry is another of a number of high-ranking American officials who went to China this summertime after U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made a long-awaited journey in June.
The relations between the 2 superpowers have been deteriorating for months, but on both sides there is cautious optimism and hope to resume an authoritative dialog that can build the basis for improving relations.
Kissinger's visit, which has not been announced before, takes place outside the authoritative agenda of meetings. It was almost 52 years since Kissinger's secret visit to Beijing in July 1971. This visit paved the way for Richard Nixon, then president of the United States, to normalize relations between the United States and China.
More than half a century later Kissinger is inactive seen by many in Beijing as “friend of China“. In May the state tabloid Global Times praised Kissinger's “sharp as razor” mind.
Kissinger repeatedly warned against the “catastrophic” consequences of the conflict between the US and China.
Li Shangfu, holding the position of head of the Chinese Ministry of Defence since the beginning of this year became the mark of US sanctions in 2018. Li's listing of U.S. undesirables was related to China's acquisition of combat aircraft from the main Russian arms exporter. The fact that the Americans have not abolished sanctions aimed personally at Li is the reason why Beijing refuses to resume military dialog with Washington. Last period Li refused to meet his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, at the Shangri-La Asian safety Summit in Singapore.
Source: The Guardian
Leszek B. Glass
Email: [email protected]
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