Interesting to learn --- that in 1971, the Chinese Table Tennis team invited the US Table Tennis team to compete in China during a time when US citizens were not allowed to visit Communist countries.<br /> President Nixon was working on a reapproachment and Henry Kissinger made a secret visit in 1971...coincidence?<br /> The words Ping Pong have a different meaning in Chinese as shared by Biljani connoting collision and battle. However, in this instance, the Chinese used it as a charm offensive (The Art of War) to influence public opinion and initiate relations with the US. Conclusion: Ping Pong diplomacy is not Shuttle Diplomacy...it is the fostering of citizen, cultural and sports diplomacy to lay the groundwork for establishing formal ties...at least that's my opinion!

Source author: Marie Betts-Johnson mbj@ipicalifornia.com