On China

Henry Kissinger

May 2011 · Sold by Penguin

About this eBook

“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.

Ratings and reviews

The book is slightly informative, but nothing more than what pervades popular journalism. This is a book meant to keep interest by making interesting arguments, however, such arguments can easily be denounced as hypocrisy, overgeneralization, or simply Asskissing meted out by eurocentric folklore and ignorance of techinical facts. I've read many dissertations on the many flaws that are found in this book, and this is by no means a scholarly work. **I also wish here to express my condolences to the Chinese people. By no means will I ever find justification in european vandalism/destruction of a defenseless, largely self-sufficient society.

On China is a great look into the history of China throughout the ages with a special focus on modern times. Especially interesting was Kissinger's examination of the Chinese perspective on the world. Essentially, China is the only country in the world that can say things like "Taiwan is ours. I understand that you are opposed to that. It is ok. We've been around for thousands of years. We can wait 100 years for your country to cease to exist." It's interesting to think about whether this extreme Sino-centrism will actually prevail in the future.

Kissinger did a great job of putting the relationship that he and Nixon forged during the 70s into a larger historical context. This book was quite thought provoking and anyone looking to study the middle kingdom should give it a shot.

About the author

Henry Kissinger served in the US Army during the Second World War and subsequently held teaching posts in history and government at Harvard University for twenty years. He served as national security advisor and secretary of state under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, and advised many other American presidents on foreign policy. He received the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Medal of Liberty, among other awards. He was the author of numerous books and articles on foreign policy and diplomacy, including most recently Leadership, On China, and World Order. He served as chairman of Kissinger Associates, Inc., an international consulting firm. He died in 2023.