Encounter between Henry Kissinger and Chinese Defense Minister Under Sanctions Takes Place in Beijing

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in Beijing, according to the Chinese Ministry of Defense. Kissinger, who played a key role in the US-China rapprochement during the Nixon administration, met with Li as a private citizen, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

The meeting between Kissinger and Li comes at a time of significant tension between the United States and China. The US government has been making efforts in recent months to stabilize the relationship between the two countries, with multiple senior administration officials traveling to China. However, the Chinese government has rejected high-level military-to-military communications with the US, including a meeting between Li and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue earlier this year.

According to the Chinese readout of the meeting, Kissinger emphasized that he was in Beijing as a friend of China and that both countries should work to eliminate misunderstandings, coexist peacefully, and avoid confrontation. He also stated that history and practice have shown that neither the US nor China can afford to treat each other as adversaries.

State Department spokesperson Miller confirmed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken was aware of Kissinger’s trip to China, as he learned about it during his own meetings with Chinese officials last month. Miller stated that the Chinese officials mentioned Kissinger’s visit as a private citizen, which he has done several times over the years.

Miller also mentioned that he was not aware of any planned conversations between Kissinger and US officials, but he wouldn’t be surprised if Kissinger briefed them on his discussions. He explained that Kissinger has done this numerous times in the past.

When asked about the meeting between Kissinger and Li, who is under US sanction, Miller stated that the US would object to anyone violating sanctions but did not believe the meeting violated those sanctions. He even mentioned that the US believes its own secretary of defense could meet with the sanctioned defense minister, which would be appropriate.

In summary, the meeting between Henry Kissinger and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in Beijing highlights ongoing efforts to stabilize the US-China relationship. Kissinger’s status as a private citizen allowed him to meet with Li despite the latter’s US sanctions. Both sides emphasized the importance of eliminating misunderstandings and pursuing peaceful coexistence between the two countries.

Original Story at edition.cnn.com – 2023-07-18 19:08:00