Ping+Pong+Diplomacy+-+12-13

= Ping Pong Diplomacy (April 6th - 17th, 1971) =


 * === A brief description of the event (no more than one paragraph) ===

During the Cold War, when U.S. ping pong team was competing in the 31st World Table Tennis Championship, China officially invited the U.S. team for a ping pong match. This was accomplished through friendship of Song Zhong and Steenhoven, both members of Chinese delegation and U.S. delegation, respectively. As their friendly chat about having a match someday got publicized through news; Both Mao Zedong and Nixon saw this as an opportunity to enhance the relationships between The People's Republic of China and the United States of America, speeding up the process. Just after the World Table Tennis Championship, Team U.S. was directed to China to play the first ping pong match, and to lead a group of journalists—after years of seclusion.


 * === A list of "major players" involved (nations involved, heads of states, other people of prominence) ===

- China and Mao Zedong - U.S. and Nixon - Premier Zhou Enlai - Henry Kissinger (U.S. envoy) - Pakistan (messenger between U.S. Government and Chinese Government) - Japan (where 31st World Table Tennis Championships were held, and where Song Zhong and Steenhoven meet) - Song Zhong: Member of Chinese delegation to World Table Tennis Championships - Steenhoven: Manager of U.S. Delegation


 * === Dates: ===

April 6 - 17, 1971


 * === The outcome of this event ===

In the end, on April 21 to 28th of 1972, Nixon visited China after relaxed relations between the two nations. It was possible because of the ping pong diplomacy.


 * === How this event influenced the Cold War as a whole ===

Although China was still communist, U.S. gained access to it, which meant that China would, one way or another support capitalism (through trade, as a result of better relationships). Soviet Union, on the other hand, would be loosing a big comrade, who seems to be waning on its political stance.





Video: @http://youtu.be/dX_Q4FjpTLY


 * === Bibliography ===

China Internet Information Center. "Ping Pong Diplomacy." China.org.cn - China news, weather, business, travel & language courses. N.p., 8 July 2004. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

"Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee | Events Archive." Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee. N.p., 6 July 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

Murray, Geoffrey. " Scoops, pests and ping pong diplomacy - China.org.cn."China.org.cn - China news, weather, business, travel & language courses. N.p., 16 Aug. 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

PBS. "American Experience . Nixon's China Game . People & Events | PBS."PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.