Condolences for former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger poured out on Chinese social media alongside official tributes after his death at the age of 100.
“Farewell, old friend of China,” posted one user on China’s social networking platform Weibo with the candle emoji.
Kissinger, serving as National Security Advisor and later Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon, played a pivotal role in reshaping U.S. foreign policy, particularly with the groundbreaking 1971 visit to the People’s Republic of China under then Chairman Mao Zedong.
This visit marked a significant shift in Cold War politics, effectively opening the diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China, which had been estranged since Mao’s Communist takeover in 1949.
Kissinger’s strategic maneuvering laid the groundwork for Nixon’s historic visit in 1972, ultimately leading to the normalization of relations between the two nations.
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Kissinger’s death was a leading topic of discussion on the Chinese social media platforms. The hashtag “Kissinger passes away” was the number one trend on Weibo. The hashtag was viewed 450 million times on Weibo. The hashtag “Kissinger dies at 100” was the number one trend on China’s do-everything-app WeChat.
The hashtag “Kissinger dies at 100” was the number one trend on the Chinese search engine Baidu. Another hashtag, “Kissinger visited China more than 100 times and just traveled to China this year,” trended heavily on Baidu.
In July, Kissinger visited China, where he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Kissinger maintained his access to China’s top leadership as the relations between the U.S. and China witnessed a heightened phase of tensions.
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Comments remembering Kissinger’s legacy continued to pour in on Thursday. He died on Wednesday.
“He is the promoter of the normalization of Sino-US relations, a true diplomatic pragmatist who will go well all the way,” wrote a Weibo user named ZhanLang34. “We will never forget this centenarian!” wrote another Weibo user.
On Thursday, People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, described Kissinger as an “old friend of the Chinese people.”
“Among ordinary Chinese people, Kissinger is a highly recognized name for American politicians. This ‘China Connect’ who has been dealing with China for more than 40 years is known as ‘an old friend of the Chinese people,'” People’s Daily said, remembering Kissinger on his death.
People’s Daily added, “Kissinger occupies an important position in the history of American diplomacy, has an indelible position, and is also a historical witness of Sino-US relations.”
Kissinger’s tenure was also marked by controversial policies during the Vietnam War, including intensive bombing campaigns in Cambodia.
Despite these controversies, Kissinger’s legacy in the Nixon administration is primarily defined by his role in detente with the Soviet Union and the opening of China.
Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to the U.S., described Kissinger’s death as a loss to both countries – and the world.
“It is a tremendous loss for both our countries and the world. The history will remember what the centenarian had contributed to China-U.S. relations, and he will always remain alive in the hearts of the Chinese people as a most valued old friend,” Xie wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
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