"Is There a New Kissinger?" China Seeks Figure to Improve Relations with the U.S.

Next US President, China Containment Inevitable
Chinese Media's Special Report 'In Search of Kissinger'
US Figures Trusted by Both Nations Sought for Presidential Advice

Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, China is looking for a figure who can play the role of Henry Kissinger, the 20th-century 'diplomatic giant' and former U.S. Secretary of State. Since both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, who are competing in the election, maintain a stance of containing China, China believes a new figure is needed to make U.S.-China relations more flexible.

Last July, Chinese President Xi Jinping (right in the photo) and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger are seen having a conversation.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

China's Pengpai (澎湃) News recently reported an eight-part series titled "In Search of Kissinger," selecting and covering American politicians, scholars, and business figures who could help maintain stable U.S.-China relations. Mentioned were Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone; John Kerry, U.S. climate envoy; Susan Thornton, former U.S. diplomat; and Gavin Newsom, Governor of California.

The U.S. Washington Post (WP) commented on Pengpai News's special report, saying, "China is looking for a 'new Kissinger,'" describing the atmosphere as "someone who is friendly to China, has ties to the next U.S. president, and can break the hostility toward China from both major U.S. political parties."

Former Secretary Kissinger is called a living legend of American diplomacy for easing tensions between great powers in the 20th century and preventing the 'hot war of the Cold War.' During the height of the Cold War in the 1970s, he opened the door to improving relations with China and established d?tente with the Soviet Union, changing the international order. Some critics argue that his diplomacy, focused excessively on great powers, overlooked the tragedies of smaller nations. He passed away last November at the age of 100.

China's reference to Kissinger at this point ahead of the U.S. election is due to the political situation in the U.S. If former President Trump succeeds in regaining power, a full-scale trade war including tariffs on China is highly likely to reignite. Even if Vice President Harris succeeds in maintaining the Democratic administration, the containment of China is expected to continue. Accordingly, China urgently needs to find a figure other than the president in the U.S. who can play a role in improving U.S.-China relations as Kissinger did.

Besides the figures mentioned by Pengpai, China is also reviewing various political and business figures in the U.S. Wang Huiyao, a Chinese foreign policy thinker, mentioned Harvard professor Graham Allison, a politician who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Bill Clinton administration. Professor Allison is famous for explaining U.S.-China strategic competition with the concept of the "Thucydides Trap," which implies the possibility of a military clash on the brink. He also met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last March.

On Chinese social media (SNS), expectations are growing that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, could serve as a bridge between the U.S. and China, leveraging his business in China. Musk has been actively involved in politics, even appearing at former President Trump's rallies, and has often made pro-China remarks in public.

Professor Zhu Peng of Nanjing University emphasized, "This is not simply about finding a second Kissinger, but China's effort and passion to seek a rational and future-oriented relationship." Da Wei, director of the International Security Strategy Center at Tsinghua University, said, "When the leaders of both countries cannot trust each other, a figure who can act as a bridge trusted by both sides is needed," adding that even if one person cannot replace Kissinger, there could be several individuals who collectively could.