By Dr. Kevin Lau
In today's political environment, there is no doubt that the relationship between China and the United States is the most important issue. It is undeniable that the current China-US relationship is far from being in a "honeymoon period" and the tension between the two sides is high. However, if we look at it from a macro-historical perspective, the current tension is nowhere near what it was in the early years of the relationship between China and the United States after the founding of the People's Republic of China. If the two countries could overcome their difficulties back then, I am optimistic that the current problems can be resolved successfully.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the China-US relationship has been overshadowed by the Cold War, trade embargoes, and diplomatic neglect. While there were contacts between the two sides, unfortunately, most of those contacts occurred on the battlefields during the Korean War. It wasn't until the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States that an official U.S. delegation set foot in China. Later, the famous "Ping Pong Diplomacy" event took place during the 1971 World Table Tennis Championships in Nagoya, Japan. Chairman Mao Zedong personally invited the U.S. table tennis team to visit China, which shocked the world and paved the way for the normalization of China-US relations.
Today, China and the United States have established formal diplomatic relations, and the days of ignoring each other in diplomacy are long gone. But does that mean "Ping Pong Diplomacy" has lost its relevance? I disagree with that view. The current China-US relationship has been extremely tense since the trade war, so "Ping Pong Diplomacy" still holds significant market value. As for the approach, Hong Kong has always positioned itself as the "gateway between China and the world" and if there is a need for new "Ping Pong Diplomacy" to enhance China-US relations, who better than Hong Kong to take on that role?
The function of "Ping Pong Diplomacy" back then was to transform China-US relations from no communication and interaction to a state of communication and interaction. Therefore, communication and interaction are crucial for improving and promoting relations between any two countries. Hong Kong has a unique cultural background that combines both Chinese and Western influences, an open and diverse society, and a robust legal system. It can provide common ground for both China and the United States, making it an ideal location for promoting China-US exchanges.
While there are official contacts between governments, I believe that Hong Kong's role in "Ping Pong Diplomacy" should be focused on areas below the political level. Art and cultural exchanges are excellent avenues, and the recently completed top-notch museums and concert halls in the West Kowloon Cultural District provide venues for such exchanges. By deepening art and cultural exchanges between China and the United States, Hong Kong can not only facilitate interaction between the two sides but also boost the city's economy and soft power by attracting more visitors and international attention.
Sports exchanges are also crucial and share the same nature as the "Ping Pong Diplomacy" of the past. The Kai Tak Sports Park project is progressing vigorously, and it can serve as a venue for the 15th National Games jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau in 2025, as well as sports exchange activities between China and the United States.
Ultimately, we should not underestimate non-political exchanges. After all, the breakthrough in China-US relations in the past was also achieved through a sports competition, right? If we simply wait for official formal communications, who knows how long it will take. Now, if Hong Kong can exert its influence at the grassroots level, it will undoubtedly contribute to getting China-US relations back on track.
The author is a specialist in radiology with a Master of Public Health from the University of Hong Kong, and an adviser of Our Hong Kong Foundation.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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