Yi bai sui
The Chinese people have bid zaijian to one of their Old Friends™.
On Wednesday, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger died at the age of 100.
ICYDK: Kissinger orchestrated US President Richard Nixon’s historic 1972 visit to China, reestablishing Sino-American relations after over two decades of estrangement.
- In subsequent decades, he was a vocal advocate for US-China friendship and visited China more than 100 times (Global Times).
While Kissinger’s legacy in the rest of the world is…uh…complicated, he is widely revered in China and frequently met with senior Chinese leaders.
- Indeed, Kissinger sat down for a one-on-one with Xi Jinping in July to discuss China-US relations.
The Global Times published a breathless commentary on Kissinger’s life and achievements:
- “With his extraordinary wisdom and calmness, Kissinger added significant weight to the rational balance of China-US relations.”
- “The question of whether there will be a ‘next Kissinger’…is also a matter of mixed emotions.”
Xi sent a condolence message to US President Joe Biden (Xinhua):
- “Kissinger made historic contributions to the normalization of China-U.S. relations, which has not only benefited the two countries, but also changed the world.”
- “Kissinger will always be remembered and missed by the Chinese people.”
Get smart: Kissinger will have a long half-life in China.
- Expect his name to get trotted out whenever Chinese leaders evoke memories of the halcyon days of China-US rapprochement.
Get smarter: Kissinger’s achievements in China were the product of a specific time and set of circumstances.
- No more “Nixon-to-China” moments are coming down the pike.