Richter, Mischa. No, it isn't "tennis." 1971. Blogger.com
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In the latter half of the 20th century, Sino-American relations changed dramatically from isolation and conflict to cooperation and compromise. Ping-Pong diplomacy, which refers to the exchange between American and Chinese table tennis teams in 1971, played a crucial role in the process.
Probably never before in history has a sport been used so effectively as a tool of international diplomacy. With its premium on delicate skill and its onomatopoeic name implying an interplay of initiative and response. Ping Pong was an apt metaphor for the relations between Washington and Peking. |