On China Book Summary

In 'On China', Henry Kissinger delves into the complexities of Chinese history, culture, and diplomacy, exploring how these elements have shaped the nation’s interactions with the world. His unique perspective as a key figure in U.S.-China relations during the Cold War offers insight into the strategic mindsets that define both nations. Kissinger argues that understanding China's past is crucial to navigating current global tensions and forging a new diplomatic path. The book is not just a historical account, but a crucial guide for anyone seeking to comprehend the future of international relations. Prepare to be intrigued by the intricate chess game of power, ideology, and culture that defines modern China.

By Henry Kissinger

Published: 2012

"China's past is not a mere prologue; it is the foundation on which the future must be built, and to understand it is to grasp the delicate fabric of the world's most ancient civilization."

Book Review of On China

“Fascinating, shrewd . . . The book deftly traces the rhythms and patterns of Chinese history.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times “No one can lay claim to so much influence on the shaping of foreign policy over the past 50 years as Henry Kissinger.” —The Financial Times In this sweeping and insightful history, Henry Kissinger turns for the first time at book length to a country he has known intimately for decades and whose modern relations with the West he helped shape. On China illuminates the inner workings of Chinese diplomacy during such pivotal events as the initial encounters between China and tight line modern European powers, the formation and breakdown of the Sino-Soviet alliance, the Korean War, and Richard Nixon’s historic trip to Beijing. With a new final chapter on the emerging superpower’s twenty-first-century role in global politics and economics, On China provides historical perspective on Chinese foreign affairs from one of the premier statesmen of our time.

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China's past is not a mere prologue; it is the foundation on which the future must be built, and to understand it is to grasp the delicate fabric of the world's most ancient civilization.

On China

By Henry Kissinger