M A Hossain,
On 19 July 2023, a momentous event that has captured the attention of the global community, former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, embarked on a significant visit to China. This visit comes at a critical juncture in US China relations, with the transition from the Trump administration to the Biden administration. These tense relations between two superpowers disrupt the constructive dynamics and exacerbate the risk of global polarization and confrontation. As a seasoned diplomat and a key architect of the historic US -China rapprochement in the 1970s,Mr. Kissinger not only altered the historical trajectory of the two countries but also changed the course of global development. His visit to China carries immense significance and is seen as an attempt to reduce tensions between the US and China, reminiscent of his pioneering policy of 'détente'. It is evidence that recent initiative considering his historical contributions to promoting the development of US – China relations could be termed as 'opening to China 2.0'.
Historical background of US-China relations :
Henry Kissinger served as the US Secretary of State and national Security Advisor under President Richard Nixon and Gerald R Ford. Appointed as National Security Advisor in 1969 by the President Richard Nixon during the peak of the Cold War. The world was sharply divided into opposing ideologies, with the US championing capitalism and democracy, while the USSR championed communism. Under the Truman doctrine, the US's policy of 'containment' towards the USSR's allies, the US sought to prevent the spread of communism worldwide, even employing military force when deemed necessary. The island of Taiwan was administered by the Imperial Qing dynasty, but its control passed to the Japanese in 1895. After Japan's defeat in World War ll, the Island came under the governance of China’s Nationalist Party, or also known as the Kuomintang. However, In 1949, the Cultural Revolution led by Mao Zedong forced Chiang Kai-Shek, the leader of the Kuomintang, to flee to Taiwan where he governed the island until his death in 1975. China consistently claimed Taiwan as an integral part of its territory. However, after the Sino-Soviet split, which began in the early 1960s, the US saw the potential for China to become an ally. Nixon entrusted Kissinger with the mission to establish channels for diplomatic engagement. After a thorough diplomatic maneuver by the Kissinger, in 1972 Nixon could able to visit China and that eventually let to the normalization of relations with China. The United States lifted restrictions on China, removed two destroyers from the Taiwan Strait, and ceased any support for Taiwan’s Independence, adhering to the one China policy. Before this breakthrough, China had been diplomatically isolated from most of the world. Since then, Kissinger has maintained engagement with the Chinese leadership and has continued to advocate for constructive dialogue between the two superpowers.
Present US-China relations :
The world is currently witnessing increasing tensions in various realms including trade dispute, technological competition, tariff impositions, and geopolitical maneuvering. During the Trump Presidency, the US pursued a more aggressive foreign policy towards China. The ties between the two countries had further spiraled downwards following then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan. This led to Beijing cutting contacts with the US military communications. Beijing has cited Washington's ' unilateral sanctions ' as an obstacle to resuming military- to- military dialogues. Additionally, the recent Russia -Ukraine conflict exposed the widening gap between US – China relations, where China is backing Russia staunchly. The relations were further deteriorated by the balloon incident at the beginning of this year.
Kissinger's visit & Beijing’s strategy to the US :
China is facing a bipartisan tough stance from both Republicans and Democrats in the US, and a US presidential election is approaching where candidates are likely to be more critical of China. In this context, Beijing is trying to influence and persuade US policy elites to reduce their strategic suppression of China. Chairman Xi Jinping's meeting with Kissinger reflects a long term strategic move, valuing people to people relations, which are more important for China than official ones in its interaction with the US. It is evident that Beijing refused to let Mr. Li Shangfu meet his counterpart Lloyd Austin, but made an exception for Mr. Kissinger. While Mr. Xi met with American entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates, US special envoy for climate John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen did not get face time with the President. Several American business leaders, including Mr. Musk, Mr. Tim Cook and Jamie Dimon, have been granted high -level meetings with Chinese officials that protocols are usually designed for foreign senior officials. These visits by the business leaders offer China an opportunity to send a message domestically about foreign confidence in the economy. So the message is very clear that Beijing is open to meeting with the pro-China people who all are willing to speak out for China.
China’s political landscape :
Beijing's overtly warm reception of Mr. Kissinger, clearly signals its desire for friendlier engagement and less belligerence from the US. China seeks the US to lift restrictions on technology, adhere to the principles established in the Shanghai Communiqué, and understand the extreme significance of the one China policy, stop what Beijing perceives as a containment strategy centered on building security ties and partners around Asia. China welcomes the engagement in fair strategic competition of quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence, and semiconductors. Through communication and dialogue, they can reach an immediate consensus on some security issues in certain areas. For example, they could build on a mechanism, like the Asia-Pacific Consultations initiated in 2011, led by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US State Department.
Though Mr. Kissinger has a controversial reputation in other parts of Asia for his role in systematic famine in Bangladesh and the Vietnam War. He remains highly regarded in China for aiding the country’s re-engagement with the world. It is evident that any armed conflict between the US and China would not bring any meaningful result, but catastrophic consequences for the World. Therefore, Mr. Kissinger's visit could be seen as a gesture of goodwill from China and a possible implication of the policy 'opening to China 2.0'.
M A Hossain is a political and defense analyst based in Bangladesh.
Email: writetomahossain@gmail.com
This article exclusively published at :
1. New Thinking, NY, USA : 30July23
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