Legislators and a senior official yesterday extolled the life achievements of former US diplomat Henry Kissinger, who died on Wednesday at the age of 100.
Kissinger passed away at his home in Connecticut, a statement issued by his geopolitical consulting firm, Kissinger Associates Inc said, which did not mention the circumstances of his death.
Known as one of the most prominent and controversial figures in US foreign affairs, Kissinger was a Harvard professor who served as a national security adviser and secretary of state under former US president Richard Nixon.
Photo: AFP
In those roles, Kissinger devised and pursued the detente policy that thawed US relations with the Soviet Union and China. He also negotiated the US’ exit from the Vietnam War, which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1973.
At a news conference yesterday, Wang Liang-yu (王良玉), head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ North American Affairs Department, said that Kissinger was a “towering figure in the history of American diplomacy.”
Wang said Taiwan’s office in Washington would formally convey the nation’s condolences to Kissinger’s family.
Photo: AFP / Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Taiwan lauded the professional work of the late diplomat, who was known for his “realpolitik” approach — diplomacy based on power and practical considerations rather than ideology.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政), who is also an international relations academic, told reporters that Kissinger played an important and historic role in the positive development of US-China relations.
Kissinger was known for being extremely friendly toward China, and based on that perception, he was widely seen among Chinese as an “old friend of China,” Lo said.
Kissinger had a large following generally, but with his passing, his influence on US foreign policy is likely to fade over time, Lo added.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen I-hsin (陳以信), another diplomacy expert, expressed condolences on behalf of his party on Kissinger’s death.
However, Chen said that Kissinger’s significant work to achieve closer ties between the US and China also led to the US’ severance of formal relations with Taiwan.
Nonetheless, his dedication to pursuing world peace and his ideologies in that regard would continue to serve as an inspiration to Taiwan in its efforts to achieve peace amid the current Sino-US rivalry, Chen said.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, the KMT left a more tepid response to Kissinger’s legacy.
The party “notes the passing of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and we send our condolences to his family. We recognize Kissinger’s efforts to bring about peace and prosperity in the Indo Pacific throughout his career in and outside government,” it wrote.
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