Chinese Defense Minister Meets with Henry Kissinger in Beijing

July 18, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—In a very unusual encounter, Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu on July 18 met with Henry Kissinger, who was visiting Beijing. Li, of course, remains under U.S. sanctions for his work in purchasing Russian weapons for the Chinese military during an earlier posting; he has consistently refused to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin until the U.S. takes down measures to relieve its pressure on China, possibly including lifting the sanctions on General Li.

Nevertheless, he is obviously interested in talking with the U.S. side and in re-establishing military-to-military relations at the highest level. In his discussion with Kissinger, Li emphasized that the U.S. and China bear a major responsibility for maintaining prosperity and stability in the world, and that the peaceful development of China is a blessing for the world, not a disaster. He complained that some people in the U.S. do not want to meet China halfway and underlined President Xi’s insistence on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as the basis for such discussions

Kissinger said that he had come to Beijing as a friend to China, and that history has shown that the two countries must not treat each other as adversaries. He said that both sides must show wisdom in dealing with their relationship, and said that the two militaries needed to strengthen communication and do their best to create the basis for the development of bilateral relations.