On China

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On China is a 2011 non-fiction book by Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Adviser. The book blends Chinese history with foreign-policy analysis and Kissinger’s own experiences dealing with China. It aims to explain China’s diplomacy over thousands of years and to shed light on the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party.

What the book does
- Explains China’s traditional views on peace, war, and world order through the lens of realpolitik.
- Shows how Sino-Soviet tensions pushed China to seek a relationship with the United States, leading to a landmark rapprochement.
- Recounts Kissinger’s role in the 1971 secret trip to China and President Nixon’s 1972 visit.
- Looks at China’s leaders—from Mao Zedong to Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping—and how their ideas shaped China’s path.
- Considers the future of U.S.–China relations and warnings against another cold war.

What the book is like
- 17 chapters mix history, policy analysis, and personal recollections.
- Not an autobiography, but partly reminiscence, partly history, and partly a study of Kissinger’s experiences in China.

Reception
- The book received mixed reviews. Some praised its insightful look at Chinese diplomacy and strategy, while others criticized it for bias or for downplaying the human costs of Mao’s era.
- Supporters highlighted its realism and long-term view of China’s rise; critics questioned Kissinger’s framing and the implications of his conclusions.

Key themes and coverage
- Early China’s view of itself as a central civilization and how that shaped foreign policy.
- Mao’s era, Zhou Enlai’s diplomacy, and Deng Xiaoping’s reforms.
- China’s three-world approach and its impact on global politics.
- The 1990s and early 2000s U.S.–China relationship, ending with an assessment of China’s rise as a potential superpower.

Publication details
- Published in 2011 by Penguin Press.
- First edition hardcover runs about 608 pages.

On China is a thoughtful blend of history, diplomacy, and Kissinger’s reflections on China and its place in the world.