Amid escalating tensions with the United States, China has sought to leverage a meeting with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to project an image of stability and influence. While China celebrated the visit, experts suggest this move reflects a degree of desperation on Beijing's part as relations with the U.S. continue to deteriorate.

Kissinger, instrumental in establishing US-China relations decades ago, met with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and Defense Minister Li Shangfu. Wang lauded Kissinger as an "old friend" and emphasized his ongoing significance in bilateral relations, even invoking the need for "Kissinger-style diplomatic wisdom and Nixon-style political courage" in current U.S. policy towards China.

However, analysts like Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, view Kissinger's influence as considerably diminished. Chang believes China's outreach to Kissinger signals a level of anxiety, especially as regional dynamics shift and countries like the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia increasingly perceive China as a threat. He doubts Kissinger's ability to significantly alter the trajectory of the relationship unless China demonstrates a willingness to make positive changes.

The backdrop of these meetings includes a series of escalating tensions: China's support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last year, and recent disagreements with the European Union. China's cancellation of a visit from a top European diplomat underscores the strained relations, despite the EU's stated desire to avoid complete economic decoupling from China.

During his meetings, Kissinger advocated for improved communication and peaceful coexistence. Wang, however, stressed the need for the U.S. to abandon attempts to reform or contain China, suggesting a fundamental disconnect in the two nations' approaches to the relationship.