Michelle Obama revives ping-pong diplomacy

Henry Kissinger, National Security Advisor to President Richard Nixon, had begun 'ping-pong' diplomacy by opening relations with China in 1971. It was through the good offices of the Pakistan administration of General Yahya Khan. In the words of Henry Kissinger, "it was our crucial link to Peking and Pakistan was one of China's closest allies. We had sent a message in December through Pakistan accepting the principle of an American emissary in Peking. In March and April, the signs were multiplying that a Chinese response was imminent. April was the month of ping-pong diplomacy" (Henry Kissinger's book,  White House Years, published in 1979). The context was different 43 years ago. Possibly, the resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly of  October 25, 1971 which recognised the People's Republic of China as the only lawful representative of China expelling the Republic of China (Taiwan), facilitated the warming up of relations between the US and China. And Kissinger undertook a secret trip to Peking from Islamabad on July 15, 1971. Both Kissinger President Nixon and Kissinger kept their eyes closed in spite of series of reports of massacre of the innocent people in erstwhile East Pakistan by brutal army of Pakistan.
Inspired by the UN resolution and a result of 'ping-pong' diplomacy of Kissinger, President Nixon  paid a  visit  to Peking in February, 1972  to recognise the People's Republic of China by signing the Shanghai Communique on February 28. A history was made by the US. Diplomatic relation was, however, established by signing a joint communique on January 01, 1979.
Despite twist and turns, the US and China have been maintaining cordial relations. Now, US First Lady Michelle Obama went to China at the invitation of First Lady Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is for the first time in the modern history of China that its First Lady is visible around the world. President Xi Jinping, accompanied by First Lady Peng Liyuan, paid a visit to the US immediately after being sworn in as President in June, 2013. The Chinese First Lady is known as a rock star and popular vocalist in China. While the Chinese President accompanied by the First Lady had been on a visit to California, US First Lady Michelle Obama remained busy with birthday celebration of her daughter in Washington, DC. There are similarities in First Ladies of China and the US. While Peng is presenting her country's fashion brands, Michelle is tempted to promote US designs.
The visit of Michelle Obama is considered as ping-pong diplomacy with China at a time when the West and Russia remain engaged in a tug of war following annexation of Crimea Peninsula of Ukraine. The latest development is that Russia was kicked out of G-8 bloc of industrial countries and series of economic sanctions were imposed on Russians, banks, officials and political leaders of Ukraine and Crimea Peninsula for holding 'illegal referendum to annexation of Crimea by Russia'. The European Union is also boycotting Russia as can be ascertained from the participation of the Prime Minister of Ukraine in the EU summit in Brussels on March 20. The EU gave a strong message supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russia while it cancelled proposed the EU-Russia summit.
Michelle Obama began her journey, accompanied by her two daughters and mother, playing table tennis (ping pong) in Beijing watching classes on table tennis in a school there. She described the game as fascinating although she is not good at the game. Since arrival in Beijing, Michelle Obama was received by Peng Liyuan and President Xi Jinping. Michelle Obama was accompanied by her two daughters and mother.
While addressing American and Chinese students at the Stanford Center of Peking University, Michelle Obama urged students to acquire excellent education which will empower younger generation in China and the US to come together. She laid emphasis on learning language and culture of each nation to strengthen relations between the two peoples. She pointed out that study abroad is a vital part of the US foreign policy which provides students to immerse themselves in another culture. She told the students that clean energy technologies from California could improve the environment in China while architecture from ancient temple in Xian which she visited could inspire the designer of a new building in Dallas or Detroit. Michelle Obama held a conversation with students on the Stanford campus via high-technique video conference.
Apart from visiting Forbidden City in Beijing, Michelle visited the Great Wall of China on March 22. The Great Wall stretches more than 13,000 miles of Chinese countryside. After visiting the Great Wall she undertook a ride by toboggan along with two daughters. She visited the Giant Panda Research Base in Chengdu in south-west of China's Sichuan province where she feted panda on March 26. She also addressed students of a high school in Chengdu where she reportedly said there is freedom to say what we think and worship what we choose in the US. She concluded saying those ideals are not perfect and that minorities still are struggling to overcome discrimination. She might have focused the highly sensitive issue of the semi-autonomous region of Tibet where minority rights are being trampled by the Chinese authorities in Beijing. Moreover, she dined at a Tibetan restaurant in Chengdu.
There have been speculations in Russia that US sanctions would likely speed up Russia's foreign policy turning towards the East where President Putin has increasingly been courting China as a strategic partner. President Obama also renewed contacts with  President Xi Jingping at the Hague where both of them attended a nuclear security summit on March 25. From this perceptive and from repairing lingering disappointment in China over a skipped opportunity of Michelle Obama-Peng Liyuan meeting in California, the visit of Michelle Obama would go a long way in cementing US's bilateral relations with rising China.
The writer is a retired diplomat from Bangladesh.
 amjad.21@gmail.com