Ping-pong diplomacy at play

Smita Sharma

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SPORTS is not an uncommon diplomatic tool. Cricket has on several occasions created the atmosphere for dialogue and even been used, especially between India and Pakistan, as a tool to punish.

At the height of the Cold War, an exchange of table tennis players between US and China in 1971 paved the way for President Richard Nixon to travel to Beijing. The then unusual “ping-pong diplomacy” as it came to be known thawed frosty ties between the two nations after more than two decades of no communication.

While the two powers are today engaged in talks to avert a looming trade war, the Chinese embassy in Delhi organised a friendly table tennis tournament for diplomats simply to “increase exchanges and friendship”.

Ambassador Lou Zhaouhai, meanwhile, has an active Twitter presence since the Chinese embassy handle changed to the envoy’s handle @China_Amb_India just ahead of the Wuhan summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping.

Lou wrote on Twitter: “My old friends, Ambassadors of Czech, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and ROK (Republic of Korea) also join. Great to see you all! Thank you for kicking off the tournament together with me. Ambassadors of Czech and Indonesia also play in the tournament (sic).”

The first Friendship Table Tennis Tournament had eight participating teams from the embassies of China, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Romania.

Posting a video clip of him playing the game with the Czech envoy, Lou tweeted: “Great fun to play with my friend, H.E. Ambassador Mr Milan Hovorka! Who do you think is a better player :).” Clearly from organising interactive seminars with strategic community to fun contests and games, the Chinese embassy is in an all new communicative avatar.

Cooperation through competition

From the India-China summit talks to the historic Korean peninsular talks between Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in, dialogue has been the flavour of the season. South Korea, meanwhile, is promoting competition for enhanced people-to-people cooperation with India.

The 3rd Korea-India Friendship Quiz Competition saw more than 20,000 students from 60 Delhi/NCR schools test their knowledge of international affairs and all things Korean — from K-pop to dramas — at the event organised by the Korean Cultural Centre India.

While there were prizes galore, four lucky winners won a weeklong free trip to Korea and were presented the awards by Ambassador Shin Bong-kil. Kim Kum-pyoung, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India, said: “This contest is an important opportunity to introduce Korea and its culture to the students, the future of India. I’m convinced that they will contribute and play a major role in the bilateral relationship with their understanding of Korea.” Some competition in diplomacy is surely good!