The White House expressed its interest in hearing about former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's recent trip to China, where he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other
officials. Kissinger, known for his pivotal role in normalizing U.S.-China relations in the 1970s, was welcomed warmly by President Xi as an "old friend" during his visit.
While Kissinger's meetings with top Chinese officials were seen as significant amid efforts to repair strained relations between Beijing and Washington, the White House pointed out the challenge of U.S. officials not being able to engage in similar direct communication with their Chinese counterparts. Kissinger, at 100 years old, also met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi and Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who had previously declined direct talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby expressed regret that a private citizen like Kissinger could have such high-level communication with Chinese officials while U.S. officials face restrictions. Kirby emphasized the need for open military lines of communication, especially during tense times when the risk of miscalculation escalates.
The U.S.-China relationship has been strained over various issues, including the situation in Ukraine, Taiwan, and trade matters. In an effort to reestablish communication channels, recent high-profile diplomatic visits have taken place, such as U.S. presidential envoy John Kerry's talks on climate change and Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing.
President Joe Biden has expressed his desire to meet with President Xi in the coming months, with some officials hoping for face-to-face talks at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in San Francisco, both scheduled for later this year. The White House is keen on gaining insights from Kissinger's trip and understanding the developments in China-U.S. relations. Photo by U.S. Department of State from United States, Wikimedia commons.