Kissinger s true motives revealed

Remember the secretive, ground-breaking trip to mainland China undertaken by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1971? Historians describe it as the first step leading to Taiwan’s isolation in the international arena. The Nixon administration, alarmed by the global ambitions of the then-mighty Soviet Union, saw the mainland as a counterweight to curb Soviet expansionism.

Kissinger detailed his secret visit in the first volume of his memoirs entitled "The White House Years". Some of these “facts,” however, are now being questioned with the release of classified documents by a research group called the National Security Archive. With his single-minded determination to curb the Soviet Union and get the United States out of Vietnam, Kissinger was prepared to jettison Taiwan in exchange for Beijing’s help. The facts emerge from the documents released 30 years after his secretive mainland mission.

One interesting fact is in regards to Kissinger’s so-called “historic meeting” in Beijing with the then-mainland Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai July 9, 1971. It was used by the former secretary of state to explain in detail how U.S. policy toward Taiwan would undergo a radical change if Beijing helped the Nixon administration extricate itself from Vietnam.

The documents also show the ruthlessness with which Kissinger pursued his objectives while keeping U.S. allies in the dark about his true intentions. The withdrawal from Vietnam had become such an obsession with the Nixon administration that it was even willing to order a unilateral withdrawal, ignoring the fact that such a move would have resulted in the immediate collapse of its South Vietnamese ally. The documents highlight the communications that passed between the U.S. administration and the mainland up to the point when Nixon made his historic visit to the mainland in 1972.

After studying the documents, many scholars say there are inaccuracies in the depiction of the meeting between Zhou and Kissinger as narrated in the latter's book "The White House Years". In the book, Kissinger creates the impression that his meeting with Zhou was to discuss fundamental issues, not to dwell on tensions over Taiwan. The island, according to Kissinger’s book, was discussed only briefly. Not so say the scholars.

According to them, Kissinger’s narration seems to downplay their discussions, particularly on the question of Taiwan. Indeed, Taiwan was in fact the major issue between the two sides. It was not in keeping with the logic of that time that Kissinger and Zhou would not have discussed the Taiwan question. Taiwan did take a great deal of time in Kissinger’s first meeting with the then-mainland Chinese premier — at least one-third according to the documents.

The manner in which Kissinger paid his first visit to Beijing also raised a great deal of dismay. The former secretary of state feigned illness on a visit to Pakistan in 1971, remaining out of public attention and secretly flying to the capital of the People’s Republic of China. He thus managed to dodge the tenacious reporters watching his every move.

In the meeting Zhou made it clear to Kissinger that diplomatic relations could only be established if the United States acknowledged that the PRC was the only legitimate government of China. Taiwan was to be considered an “inalienable part of Chinese territory” which should be returned to the mainland one day.

Another crucial promise made by Kissinger, which many Taiwanese considered a stab in the back, was the Nixon administration’s willingness to pull two-thirds of its troops out of Taiwan once the Vietnam war was over. Kissinger reportedly stated that the U.S. administration was not pursuing a “two-Chinas” approach to resolving the Taiwan issue or a “one-China, one-Taiwan” approach. Indeed, he is reported to have favored the direction indicated by Zhou.

One of the documents highlighting Kissinger’s manipulative skills is evident in a conversation between Kissinger and Nixon April 27, 1971. Kissinger tries to downplay the abilities of former U.S. representative to the United Nations George Bush, who later became president himself and New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, disqualifying them as envoys for a secret visit to the PRC to meet with Zhou. Describing Rockefeller as “not disciplined enough” and Bush as “too soft and not sophisticated,” Kissinger gradually emerged as the main candidate for such a visit.

The publicly professed “peace with honor” formula that became a Republican mantra in 1968 was being paid mere lip service. Kissinger suggested a unilateral withdrawal from Vietnam, indicating that the U.S. administration was willing to jettison Vietnam. It was willing to do whatever was needed to get out of the Vietnam debacle.

While history is unlikely to speak kindly of Kissinger’s role, as far as the Vietnam withdrawal is concerned, one would hardly be surprised if similar approaches were considered for Taiwan in an effort to win mainland China over as a long-term ally.

Pretty pathetic article.

The documents also show the ruthlessness with which Kissinger pursued his objectives while keeping U.S. allies in the dark about his true intentions. Ruthlessness is a strong word. What is the support given for using it? None.

Note the use of the word "his," twice, as if this policy were purely his invention and he were a rogue diplomat acting against his country.

After studying the documents, many scholars say there are inaccuracies in the depiction of the meeting between Zhou and Kissinger as narrated in the latter's book "The White House Years". Why are the scholars unnamed?

One of the documents highlighting Kissinger’s manipulative skills is evident in a conversation between Kissinger and Nixon April 27, 1971. More name-calling. Or is this also according to the unnamed "scientists?
Kissinger tries to downplay the abilities of former U.S. representative to the United Nations George Bush, who later became president himself and New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, disqualifying them as envoys for a secret visit to the PRC to meet with Zhou. Describing Rockefeller as “not disciplined enough” and Bush as “too soft and not sophisticated,” Kissinger gradually emerged as the main candidate for such a visit.

As if he elbowed them away. It is very plausible that Nixon and he did not want to start at such a high level as the Secretary of State. Not finding someone in whom that could be confident, they decided in the end that Kissinger himself should go. This happens in management teams very often.

Sounds to me that this Chinese writer has a grudge at the American policy towards Taiwan.

That's what it reads like.We'll never really understand everything that went on back then anyway,no matter how much is given to the public,in tapes and documents.As someone who actually has a hard-copy of this book,(I took it from my Dad years ago)I have to give the benefit of the doubt to H.K. and say "The White House Years" are his interpretation of those years.Get over it lady.He and his motives are History.All strong people are manipulators in one way or another.I bet this woman will read #42's memoirs and take it all at face value too.It's too bad some people,like this author,didn't complain nearly enough about #42's Manipulations,which are still being revealed and will be for AGES,and certainly put H.K.'s to shame,that's for damn sure!

All strong people are manipulators in one way or another. Exactly right: this is what it means to lead. A leader induces people to follow. This quality used to elicit respect; nowadays, everone feels he is a leder and confuses this with manipulation.

I agree with you, of course, on #42. He is unique in our history, and I can describe his uniqueness in a sentence. Whereas all leaders, being only human, do not always serve the interests their flock, #42 never in his life serer the intrests of his state and country: it was always about him alone.

Abroad, people often value our presidents by what he has done for them. Chinese care what our president does in that part of the world, the Africans how much aid he dispenses there, etc. This Chinese writer my think that #42 was a great president because he has done nothing what she thinks is bad for Taiwan.

Thanks for writing, Pagey.

A leader induces people to follow.

Exactly.I had an idea for making a better product a few years ago.Paid for a patent and through sheer will and determination,developed it,manufactured it,had dynamite packaging made,pitched it and it sold well enough, that they took it 2 years in a row in a "Major" chain store.Was there manipulation somewhere along the line,in bringing that product to fruition? Perhaps,but certainly not w/ any malice intended what-so-ever.You do what you must to make good things occur.I convinced people to back my idea. That's not manipulating, that's believing in something so strongly that they walk out of numerous meetings saying "Whew, I believe he's onto something",which is what I did. #42 earned the Office of the President w/ Malice of Forethought.That's the big difference IMO.

Kissinger has been working both ends of the Central Asian petroleum expansion. Starting back in 1997, he began working with Unocal on the the various pipeline projects, (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc.). The goal, of course, was to get oil to the coast of Pakistan so it can be refined and sold to China (the new big market). Kissinger, not one to let an opportunity slip by, has also worked the China end of the deal, as you have pointed out. What a guy! Not to mention that he and his cronies have got the US military doing their security for them.

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