--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the short term, it would not have made…" description: "\"In the short term, it would not have made it possible to resume relations, because in the Chinese mind, the humiliation of China started with the annex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/henry-a-kissinger-1068_annexation_in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made_1193884.jpg" --- # In the short term, it would not have made it possible to… ![“In the short term, it would not have made it possible to resume relations, because in the Chinese mind, the humiliation of China started with the annexation of Taiwan by Japan. If the United States had suddenly declared Taiwan as a separate state - for which we would have had no support among…” quote by Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/henry-a-kissinger-1068_annexation_in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made_1193884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/henry-a-kissinger-1068_annexation_in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made_1193884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/henry-a-kissinger-1068_annexation_in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made_1193884.jpg) > “In the short term, it would not have made it possible to resume relations, because in the Chinese mind, the humiliation of China started with the annexation of Taiwan by Japan. If the United States had suddenly declared Taiwan as a separate state - for which we would have had no support among other nations - the consequences would have been giving up our relationship with China and committing ourselves to a long-term conflict with China.” [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. U.S. recognition of Taiwan as independent would have severed ties with China, risking long-term conflict. **In simple terms:** Recognizing Taiwan alone could damage U.S.-China relations. Key Takeaway Weigh diplomatic costs before bold moves. Themes diplomacy geopolitics national interest conflict avoidance Mood cautious analytical Type strategic historical When to use this quote - policy decision - military planning - international negotiations - economic sanctions Key Concepts realpolitik sovereignty strategic signaling Questions to Reflect On - What alternative diplomatic paths could preserve peace? - How does historical humiliation shape current foreign policy? A Different Perspective A hardline stance may provoke escalation rather than deterrence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Annexation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annexation/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Humiliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliation/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Our relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-relationship/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Taiwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taiwan/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [Certainly nothing is easier than to rewrite history. If we had made Taiwan a separate state, it would have led to a fundamental conflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/certainly-nothing-is-easier-than-to-rewrite-history-if-we-had-made/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The position is that stability and peace in Asia depend on a cooperative relationship between China and the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-position-is-that-stability-and-peace-in-asia-depend-on-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I would have said, before the World Trade Center events, that he would try to get a normal relationship with China - making clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-would-have-said-before-the-world-trade-center-events-that-he-would/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [FREEBOOTER, n. A conqueror in a small way of business, whose annexations lack of the sanctifying merit of magnitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/freebooter-n-a-conqueror-in-a-small-way-of-business-whose-annexations/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Annexation is probably the most valuable tool a city has to ensure orderly growth and development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hawkins/annexation-is-probably-the-most-valuable-tool-a-city-has-to-ensure/) [Jeff Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hawkins/) > [I'm very pleased this military engagement together with a political road map that we developed, we were able to continue. We want to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/i-m-very-pleased-this-military-engagement-together-with-a-political/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [“When you grow up knowing that you deserve to be on top, that the lesser houses exist to serve your house’s glorious destiny, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/when-you-grow-up-knowing-that-you-deserve-to-be-on-top-that-the-2/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [We must annex those people. We can afflict them with our wise and beneficent government. We can introduce the novelty of thieves, all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/we-must-annex-those-people-we-can-afflict-them-with-our-wise-and/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“If the Palestinian people really wish to decide that they will battle to the very end to prevent partition or annexation of even an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/if-the-palestinian-people-really-wish-to-decide-that-they-will-battle/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [As humanism begins to dominate the state, the consequence is complete hostile annexation of the church or persecution by separation. Religion is then removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/as-humanism-begins-to-dominate-the-state-the-consequence-is-complete/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [We believe that settlement expansion policies pursued in recent decades by successive Israeli governments have facilitated the process of de-facto annexation. It has complicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/we-believe-that-settlement-expansion-policies-pursued-in-recent/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [I not only rejoice, but congratulate my beloved country Texas is reannexed, and the safety, prosperity, and the greatest interest of the whole Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/i-not-only-rejoice-but-congratulate-my-beloved-country-texas-is/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [I perhaps ought to say that individually I never was much interested in the Texas question. I never could see much good to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-perhaps-ought-to-say-that-individually-i-never-was-much-interested/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The 1898 annexation of the Hawaiian Islands merely formally recognized what had long been American domination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-macmillan/the-1898-annexation-of-the-hawaiian-islands-merely-formally/) [Margaret MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-macmillan/) > [The G7 and former G8 group has always viewed itself as a community of values, the annexation of Crimea, which is a blatant violation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/the-g7-and-former-g8-group-has-always-viewed-itself-as-a-community-of/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) ## More by Henry A. Kissinger > [90% of politicians give the other 10% a bad name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/90-of-politicians-give-the-other-10-a-bad-name/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-believe-it-is-a-mistake-to-isolate-arms-control-from-other-areas-of/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [ Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/before-the-freedom-of-information-act-i-used-to-say-at-meetings-the/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-convictions-that-leaders-have-formed-before-reaching-high-office/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Jews were segregated from 1933 on. We could only play against other Jewish teams. This wasn't just social segregation; this was the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/jews-were-segregated-from-1933-on-we-could-only-play-against-other/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/there-are-only-two-reasons-to-sit-in-the-back-row-of-an-airplane/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/john-paul-ii-was-one-of-the-greatest-men-of-the-last-century-perhaps/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Does anyone have any questions for my answers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/does-anyone-have-any-questions-for-my-answers/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Taiwan will probably not declare independence. The question isn't independence. The issue is whether Taiwan will declare itself as a sovereign separate state. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/taiwan-will-probably-not-declare-independence-the-question-isn-t/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One must start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [With proper tactics, nuclear war need not be as destructive as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/with-proper-tactics-nuclear-war-need-not-be-as-destructive-as-it/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I think a resumption of the Cold War would be a historic tragedy. If a conflict is avoidable, on a basis reflecting morality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-think-a-resumption-of-the-cold-war-would-be-a-historic-tragedy-if-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [University politics make me long for the simplicity of the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/university-politics-make-me-long-for-the-simplicity-of-the-middle-east/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Explore all 298 Henry A. Kissinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## More Annexation quotes > [The G7 and former G8 group has always viewed itself as a community of values, the annexation of Crimea, which is a blatant violation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/the-g7-and-former-g8-group-has-always-viewed-itself-as-a-community-of/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [The 1898 annexation of the Hawaiian Islands merely formally recognized what had long been American domination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-macmillan/the-1898-annexation-of-the-hawaiian-islands-merely-formally/) [Margaret MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-macmillan/) > [I perhaps ought to say that individually I never was much interested in the Texas question. I never could see much good to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-perhaps-ought-to-say-that-individually-i-never-was-much-interested/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I not only rejoice, but congratulate my beloved country Texas is reannexed, and the safety, prosperity, and the greatest interest of the whole Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/i-not-only-rejoice-but-congratulate-my-beloved-country-texas-is/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [We believe that settlement expansion policies pursued in recent decades by successive Israeli governments have facilitated the process of de-facto annexation. It has complicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/we-believe-that-settlement-expansion-policies-pursued-in-recent/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [As humanism begins to dominate the state, the consequence is complete hostile annexation of the church or persecution by separation. Religion is then removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/as-humanism-begins-to-dominate-the-state-the-consequence-is-complete/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [“If the Palestinian people really wish to decide that they will battle to the very end to prevent partition or annexation of even an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/if-the-palestinian-people-really-wish-to-decide-that-they-will-battle/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [We must annex those people. We can afflict them with our wise and beneficent government. We can introduce the novelty of thieves, all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/we-must-annex-those-people-we-can-afflict-them-with-our-wise-and/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“When you grow up knowing that you deserve to be on top, that the lesser houses exist to serve your house’s glorious destiny, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/when-you-grow-up-knowing-that-you-deserve-to-be-on-top-that-the-2/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [I'm very pleased this military engagement together with a political road map that we developed, we were able to continue. We want to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/i-m-very-pleased-this-military-engagement-together-with-a-political/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Annexation is probably the most valuable tool a city has to ensure orderly growth and development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hawkins/annexation-is-probably-the-most-valuable-tool-a-city-has-to-ensure/) [Jeff Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hawkins/) > [FREEBOOTER, n. A conqueror in a small way of business, whose annexations lack of the sanctifying merit of magnitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/freebooter-n-a-conqueror-in-a-small-way-of-business-whose-annexations/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“The movement to join Washington had a substantial following in the 1850s, centred in Montreal...It faced considerable resistance, though - in part because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-saunders/the-movement-to-join-washington-had-a-substantial-following-in-the/) Doug Saunders > [ Generally the officers of the army were indifferent whether the annexation \[of Texas\] was consummated or not; but not so all of them. For… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/generally-the-officers-of-the-army-were-indifferent-whether-the/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [There are probably 400 to 500 people, water protectors, north of the 1889 boundary, that was the result of an illegal annexation of treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-iron-eyes/there-are-probably-400-to-500-people-water-protectors-north-of-the/) [Chase Iron Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-iron-eyes/) [Browse all 17 Annexation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annexation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the short term, it would not have made it possible to resume relations, because in the Chinese mind, the humiliation of China started with the annexation of Taiwan by Japan. If the United States had suddenly declared Taiwan as a separate state - for which we would have had no support among other nations - the consequences would have been giving up our relationship with China and committing ourselves to a long-term conflict with China.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made-it-possible-to-resume/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Annexation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made-it-possible-to-resume/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/henry-a-kissinger-1068_annexation_in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made_1193884.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/henry-a-kissinger-1068_annexation_in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made_1193884.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/henry-a-kissinger-1068_annexation_in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made_1193884.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the short term, it would not have made it possible to resume relations, because in the Chinese mind, the…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry A. Kissinger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the short term, it would...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made-it-possible-to-resume/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/in-the-short-term-it-would-not-have-made-it-possible-to-resume/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```