DESCRIPTION: After more than two decades of hostility, Ping Pong Diplomacy began a shift in the U.S.-China relationship towards exchange and engagement. In 1972, engagement was far from inevitable and, just as in 2022, anything but easy, with detractors on both sides. The challenges faced and overcome during the early years of exchange may offer lessons for today: despite competition, skepticism, and controversy, engagement remains critical for addressing global, regional, and bilateral issues effectively. 

Join the National Committee on April 18, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. EDT for a virtual program with Pete Millwood and Jing Tsu as they reflect on the 50th anniversary of the Chinese ping pong team’s historic visit to the United States and highlight its continued relevance to the U.S.-China relationship today. Keisha Brown will moderate.