Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he sent a few copies of his memoir “Never Give an Inch” to the Chinese Embassy, jokingly suggesting they be passed on to the Chinese party leader.
Pompeo posted a picture on social media platform X on Saturday (April 27), showing several Chinese translations of “Never Give an Inch,” with the caption stating, “Sending a few to the Chinese Embassy to deliver to President Xi.”
Pompeo’s new book, titled “Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love,” details his experiences serving as the Director of the CIA and Secretary of State in the Trump administration.
The book also describes his 2018 meeting with the party leader in Beijing and the shift in US policy towards China.
Pompeo described the party leader as a gloomy communist with a “lifeless gaze” during the meeting, never smiling during the conversation.
“He exhibited the psychological traits of East German or Soviet communists that I studied during my military days. Xi spoke in hollow tones, always searching for words, phrases, and ancient Chinese sayings to evade probing questions,” Pompeo wrote.
During the meeting, the Chinese party leader continued to criticize US support for Taiwan, Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods, and claimed Beijing had sovereignty over 90% of the South China Sea.
“Then, to counter his falsehoods, I spoke the truth: China can never match the greatness of the United States,” he said.
Pompeo told the Chinese party leader that achieving superpower status requires building friendships instead of coercing neighboring countries, rewarding excellence rather than forming alliances through bribery.
“This was the climax of my relationship with President Xi. I gently and kindly told him the harsh truth,” the book stated.
Some internet users on X praised Pompeo’s book, with one saying, “This is a great book. I plan to order a few more as gifts for family.”
Others said, “I am sure he (referring to Xi) is looking forward to seeing you across the table again.”
Some also joked that the book might be “too challenging” for the party leader with only an elementary education.
Current Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently concluded a three-day visit to China. This was his second visit and second meeting with Xi.
Internet users compared the different decorations placed in the same meeting room for Blinken’s two visits. In June 2023, a lotus flower was placed in the middle of the table, symbolizing “valuing peace.” For the second visit, the table featured a color-changing wood, symbolizing “unpredictability and complexity.”
Analysts point out that Blinken’s visit indicates that while the surface of US-China relations may seem to be stabilizing, it does not mean that disagreements are not expanding and deepening. While there has been some easing in cultural and people-to-people exchanges during the visit, differences on key issues such as the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, overcapacity in production, high technology, and the Ukraine conflict remain, highlighting a trend of the relationship potentially deteriorating in the future.