Henry Kissinger warns of ‘catastrophic’ conflicts unless China and US settle their differences
- ‘It will be worse than the world wars that ruined European civilisation,’ says former secretary of state and adviser to Richard Nixon
- One side cannot dominate the other – and they have to get used to that, veteran diplomat says
“We are in a difficult period now. I am confident the leaders on both sides will realise the future of the world depends on the two sides working out solutions and managing the inevitable difficulties,” he said at an event hosted by the National Committee on US China Relations in New York on Thursday.
“There is no doubt many aspects of the evolution of China are challenging to the US,” the 96-year-old said. “It never happened before that two major countries in different parts of the universe were in similar positions.”
But they must understand that a permanent conflict between them could not be won and would end in “a catastrophic outcome” for Beijing and Washington, he said.
If no resolution was achieved, “it will be worse than the world wars that ruined European civilisation”, he said.