US needs ‘diplomatic wisdom’ of Henry Kissinger on China policy: Top Chinese official

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US policy toward China requires the “diplomatic wisdom” of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the Chinese foreign affairs chief said on Wednesday.

Wang Yi’s comment came as he met Kissinger in Beijing.

Wang said Kissinger “has made historic contributions to the ice-breaking development of China-US relations and played an irreplaceable role in enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries.”

“It is impossible to try to transform China, and it is even more impossible to contain China. The US policy toward China requires the diplomatic wisdom of Kissinger and the political courage of (former US President Richard) Nixon,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement quoted Wang as saying.

In 1971, a secret visit to Beijing by Kissinger paved the way for then-US President Nixon to normalize relations with China.

On Tuesday, Kissinger, who turned 100 in May, met with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu.

Emphasizing that the one-China principle was of “utmost importance” to Beijing, Wang said: “Taiwan independence is incompatible with peace in the Taiwan Strait.”

China considers Taiwan as its “breakaway province” while Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949.

“If the US sincerely wants stability in the Taiwan Strait, it should take actions to clearly and publicly oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ and draw a clear line from ‘Taiwan independence separatist activities’,” Wang told Kissinger.

An architect of realpolitik foreign policy, Kissinger, is praised in some quarters but lambasted in others for his policies ranging from Cyprus to Cambodia. He has warned of the consequences of a conflict between Beijing and Washington.