The Foreign Service Journal, September 2012

tablishment of diplomatic relations with Beijing, U.S.- China relations today, and other topics, in an interview conducted by AFSA President Susan Johnson at his New York City office on July 25. SJ: What is your assessment of the state of Sino- American relations today? How do you see them evolv- ing, and what do you think their impact is on the global situation? HK: Sino-American relations may be the single most important relationship, in terms of its impact on the in- ternational situation. If China and the United States are in a cooperative relationship, it will be easier to construct an Asian and global system on the basis of common ob- jectives and purposes. If we are in a confrontational po- sition, many if not most countries in Asia will have to choose sides. This will strain their domestic structure and lead to stagnation in international politics — and if it were to lead to war, it would result in the exhaustion of both sides. At the same time, global cooperation with equals is not the national style of either country. There’s a differ- ence in cultural perspective, in the sense that we believe our values are relevant to the entire world, and the entire world are aspirant Americas. As a result, there’s a strong missionary spirit in American foreign policy. Chinese believe that their values are exceptional but not accessible to non-Chinese. And, therefore, the Chi- nese concept of world order is one in which their impor- tance is recognized and respected by other countries. We are both challenged to modify our historical ap- proach. It’s a new experience for both countries. Where is the relationship today? Formally, the state- ments of both sides are very positive; and almost cer- tainly, they are sincere on both sides. But in both countries there are significant elements who argue that the traditional pattern of international relations, which dictates confrontation between an aspirant country and an established country, is going to reassert itself and who are therefore advocating a more confrontational approach. That is the challenge of American foreign policy. It’s also the challenge of Chinese foreign policy. The current administration has understood the im- portance of the Sino-American relationship. It cannot always bring itself to apply these principles in every con- crete case. But they are basically moving in the right direction, and the Chinese are trying to also move. There are many unsolved issues, but the most positive thing is that for eight American administrations and for four generations of Chinese leaders, the main lines of diplomacy established in the 1970s have been maintained and elaborated. SJ: Do you see any significant changes in the way we 24 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2 F OCUS Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger with AFSA President Susan Johnson. Ian Houston