Editorial | China loses friend in Kissinger, defender of US interests and key to normalising ties
- Owing to the United States’ role in conflict, not everyone will remember Henry Kissinger fondly, but as a statesman and individual he was always assured of a warm welcome in Beijing
If there is such a thing as a household name in foreign affairs, it has to be Henry Kissinger, who has died aged 100. It is a name associated with high-stakes international diplomacy for 50 years, and long after he left office.
Kissinger is bound to keep coming up for another 50 years in any discussion about the best or most effective diplomats or foreign ministers.
He is regarded by many as America’s greatest secretary of state, and will always be regarded by Chinese leaders as a friend, on the strength of his role in normalising relations with the United States and trying to nurture them with wise counsel.
Thanks to America’s role in conflict, not everyone in Southeast Asia will remember him that fondly. But he certainly passed the test of making a difference to the world. The tide of comments attests to that.
05:19
Henry Kissinger dies at 100, leaves indelible mark on US foreign policy
What also set him apart as a defender of American interests was an approach and negotiating style that won trust and friendship, including that of Chinese leaders.
