The origin of ping-pong diplomacy
Subtitle: the forgotten architect of Sino-U.S. rapprochement
By: Mayumi Itoh
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Published: 2011
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 244
ISBN-13: 9780230118133
Subjects: Diplomats; Biography; Influence; Table tennis; POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / General; POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / Diplomacy; HISTORY / Asia / Japan; Foreign relations
Description: "Japan Table Tennis Association President Gotō Kōji (1906-1972), the founder of Meiden High School, nurtured socially viable youth through sports education and used table tennis as a means of promoting international friendship and peace. All the expertise Gotō accumulated through his lifework as an educator and civic leader was culminated in his decision to invite China to the World Table Tennis Championships in Nagoya in 1971. Notwithstanding the stalemate in the negotiations with Chinese officials on the terms of China's participation (China linked its participation to the "two Chinas" issue), Gotō's convictions and principles earned Premier Zhou Enlai's respect and made China's participation possible. Were it not for Gotō's initiative, President Richard Nixon would not have visited China in 1972. After four decades of obscurity, it is high time to set the record straight and give Gotō overdue credit"--
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note:; title: International Political Background; title: Goto Koji and Meiden School; title: Goto Koji and Table Tennis; title: Goto Makes the Decision; title: Mr. Goto Goes to China; title: Nagoya World Table Tennis Championships; title: U.S. Response: President Nixon Goes to China; title: Japan's Response: Prime Minister Tanaka Goes to China - Conclusion: Lessons of Ping-Pong Diplomacy.