Direct Quote by Robert M. Gates
“My last visit to China as secretary, January of 2011, I told President Hu Jintao, just like this, "President of the United States wanted me to tell you that we now consider North Korea a direct threat to the United States." And it had no effect whatsoever.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: 2011 briefing, U.S. Secretary of State, Washington, D.C.
Communicates U.S. assessment of North Korea as a direct threat, noting limited impact on Chinese leadership.
In simple terms: U.S. sees North Korea as a threat; China unmoved.
Key Takeaway
Engage diplomatic channels with clear evidence.
Themes
security
diplomacy
threat perception
Mood
serious
strategic
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy negotiations
- security briefings
- multilateral talks
Key Concepts
international relations
strategic communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How can the U.S. better align with China on security?
- What alternative strategies exist?
A Different Perspective
Political realities may constrain influence despite warnings.
![“I think the fact that this was a essentially a person under [China] protection and the North Koreans went and assassinated [Kim Jong-nam], this made be the straw that really does it. And as you know, just a couple of weeks ago, the Chinese stopped all coal imports from North Korea.So there are…” quote by Christopher R. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a63/christopher-r-hill-51023_china_i-think-the-fact-that-this-was-a-essenti_1154600.jpg)
