Ping-Pong Diplomacy

Sometimes, such things happen in the world which leave us in a state of dismay compelling to say ourselves..." ohh..is this true..? " Only with such things we come to know that imagination is not always wilder than truth. Here is such an incident. Can you imagine the big globe was set in motion by a small ball?

Mao Zedong overthrown US-backed KuOmintang government in 1949, and formed "People's Republic of China" ,a communist country. US announced an embargo on trade with China. China followed a policy of information blockade. US recognized Taiwan as independent country and not China ...blau..blau..blau... it's all history.

Suddenly at once, on 14th April 1971, US announced plans to remove a 20-year trade embargo with China and China reciprocated on the same day by annulling it's policy of information blockade by allowing American journalists into Mainland China. There were neither diplomatic envoys exchanged between those two countries nor any talks held between the two governments at any level. But still it happened which went to the extent of Richard Nixon, the then American President (and also the first president) visiting Mainland China which couldn't be thought even in the widest imaginations some time ago.

It all happened when the American ping-pong team got a surprise invitation from their Chinese counterparts during the 31st World Table Tennis Championship, Japan. Ofcourse well thought out diplomatic action can be inferred in such an invitaion but inviting a ping-pong team to herald a new improved Sino-American relations was wisest (even wildest) idea by any standard.

On April 10, 1971 nine players, four officials, and two spouses stepped across a bridge from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland, ushering in an era of "Ping-Pong diplomacy." They were the first group of Americans allowed into China since the Communist takeover in 1949. "The ping heard round the world." observed Time Magazine. Ten journalists, including five Americans, were also invited to cover the team’s visit, ending the information blockade from the People's Republic in place since 1949. From April 11th to 17th , a delighted American public followed the daily progress of the visit in newspapers and on television, as the Americans played--and lost-- exhibition matches with their hosts, toured the Great Wall and Summer Palace, chatted with Chinese students and factory workers, and attended the Canton Ballet.

Chinese premier Chou En-lai worked the public relations opportunity beautifully, receiving the Americans at a banquet in the Great Hall of the People on April 14, 1971. "You have opened a new chapter in the relations of the American and Chinese people," he told the unlikely diplomats. "I am confident that this beginning again of our friendship will certainly meet with majority support of our two peoples." He also extended an invitation for more American journalists to visit China, provided they do not "all come at one time." That same day, the U.S. announced plans to remove a 20-year embargo on trade with China. A Chinese table tennis team reciprocated by visiting the United States.

Ping-Pong was "an apt metaphor for the relations between Washington and Peking" noted a Time reporter, as each nation signaled, in turn, its openness to change.

This incident, according to me, highlighted the human tendency to mingle with each other and to live with peace in unison, not because it led to meeting of the two Presidents, but because of the enthusiasm, the people showed throughout the tour.