1-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) President Tharman Shanmugaratnam paid tribute to the late American diplomat Henry Kissinger, highlighting his pivotal role in facilitating the reopening of relations between the United States and China in 1972. The President expressed this sentiment on November 30, acknowledging Kissinger’s significant contribution after two decades of the US isolating China’s communist state.
In a Facebook post commemorating Dr. Kissinger’s passing at the age of 100 on November 29, President Tharman noted that, even in his final weeks at the age of 99, Kissinger believed in the potential for the US and China to engage in a close dialogue and collaboration despite their competition and differences.
President Tharman underscored Kissinger’s conviction and active involvement in US and global affairs throughout his life. The diplomat’s efforts in the 1970s laid the groundwork for China’s eventual opening to the world, particularly during a period when China was in the midst of the Cultural Revolution.
Reflecting on Kissinger’s stance, President Tharman stated, “China was in the throes of the Cultural Revolution, and could not have been more different from America. But Kissinger believed that excluding China would leave America with one arm behind its back – and disadvantaged in its Cold War with the Soviet Union.”
President Tharman also acknowledged Kissinger’s strong connection with Singapore, emphasizing his deep regard for the late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew dating back to the late 1960s. Kissinger’s latest book, published in 2022, included a study of extraordinary leaders, including Mr. Lee.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong extended condolences to Kissinger’s family in a Facebook post on November 30, recognizing Kissinger’s enduring legacy. PM Lee highlighted Kissinger’s conviction regarding the US’s responsibility for global peace and stability, specifically in re-establishing US-China relations in 1972, which transformed the world order.
PM Lee credited Kissinger with the orderly extraction of the US from the Vietnam War, a strategy that provided non-communist countries in Southeast Asia the time to strengthen themselves politically, economically, and militarily. Kissinger’s counsel, wisdom, and curiosity about the world greatly benefited PM Lee.
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan lamented the loss of “the pre-eminent statesman of our time” in a Facebook post on November 30, noting that Singapore had lost a close friend and consistent advocate. Dr. Balakrishnan highlighted Kissinger’s lasting impact on the world, emphasizing his sharp mind and unbounded curiosity even at the age of 100.
Dr. Balakrishnan recalled Kissinger’s farewell words during their last meeting in New York, expressing support for Singapore’s autonomy. He described Kissinger as a peerless diplomat, true statesman, and visionary of his time, actively influencing global affairs until the very end.
