Then US ambassador to China James Sasser peers through a heavily-damaged door at the US embassy building in Beijing on May 10, 1999, following two days of attacks by Chinese protesters against Nato’s bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Photo: Reuters
Then US ambassador to China James Sasser peers through a heavily-damaged door at the US embassy building in Beijing on May 10, 1999, following two days of attacks by Chinese protesters against Nato’s bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Photo: Reuters
Philip J. Cunningham
Opinion

Opinion

Philip J. Cunningham

Why the US should look to Jim Sasser as a model for its new ambassador to China

  • Sasser’s conduct during the attack on the US embassy in Beijing in 1999 shows toughness is not everything
  • Rahm Emanuel lacks the calm and R Nicholas Burns the verve and autonomy needed for the job

Philip J. Cunningham
Philip J. Cunningham

Updated: 5:52am, 13 Mar, 2021

Why you can trust SCMP
Then US ambassador to China James Sasser peers through a heavily-damaged door at the US embassy building in Beijing on May 10, 1999, following two days of attacks by Chinese protesters against Nato’s bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Photo: Reuters
Then US ambassador to China James Sasser peers through a heavily-damaged door at the US embassy building in Beijing on May 10, 1999, following two days of attacks by Chinese protesters against Nato’s bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Photo: Reuters
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