The day pingpong changed the world 老美眼中的“乒乓外交”

Thirty-seven years ago, America feared China, then the largely unknown Communist giant of the Far East. But as NBC’s John Larson reports, all of that changed thanks to a little white ball.

With a world about to descend on Beijing for the Olympic Games, it may be difficult for some younger people to imagine that Communist China was once largely cut off from the Western World. Then, at the height of the cold war, that began to change in a most remarkable way. John Larson has the story tonight of "a diplomatic breakthrough----pingpong style".

The Chinese economic miracle, the Beijing Olympics may have never happened without the help of a little, white ball. Liang Geliang from China and George Braithwaite of the U. S. played an exhibition match at the Nixon Library this month. Both were members of their countries' pingpong teams 37 years ago which arguably changed history.

In 1971, America feared the largely unknown communist giant

(Communist China seeks to spread its own brand of global revolution).

But that's when a long-haired American pingpong player missed his team bus in Japan and befriended the world's NO. 1 Chinese player. NBC correspondent John Rich watched as the unlikely friendship became international news and the American team was invited to be the first Americans inside the mysterious China in 20 years. (A remarkable display of warmth and good will. )

"Well, I ve never landed on the moon but it was a little bit like that."

The American athletes were welcomed by the Chinese Premier himself. Crowds of 18,000 turned out to watch exhibition matches, in which it can now be said the Chinese let the Americans win.

"Do you think the Chinese guy went easy on you because you were an American visitor?"

"I, I would say yes. "

"You think so?"

" I think so! "

All of which stunned the Nixon White House, "It was a pretty clear signal that the Chinese were looking for a fundamental change in the relationship."

White House tapes reveal Nixon recognized the matches were a diplomatic breakthrough. "We want to get everything that we can out of this... That we not appear to exploit it."

Within days, the groundwork was laid for a Nixon's historic trip to China, which soon opened China with all its exotic wonders to the world. But perhaps the Chinese leaders said it even better. In essence, they had let the little ball move the big ball.

John Larson, NBC News, Los Angles.

參考中文翻譯：

37年前，美國懼怕中國，那時不為人知的遠東地區共產主義大國。但是，幸虧一個白色的小球，一切發生了變化。NBC新聞的John Larson報道。

世界性的奧林匹克即將在中國北京拉開帷幕，年輕一代可能無法想象，共產主義中國曾經一度被西方世界排斥。冷戰時期，發生了舉世矚目的變化，今晚John Larson將向我們講述乒乓外交的故事。

如果沒有這個白色的小球的幫助，中國經濟的神話，北京奧運可能永遠不會發生。本月，來自中國的郎葛亮和美國的George Braithwaite在尼克松圖書館舉行了一場表演賽。37年前，兩人都是他們國家兵乓隊的隊員，而這兩支乒乓球隊改變了歷史。

1971年，美國懼怕共產主義大國中國。
（共產主義中國試圖在全球性的變革中刻上自己的名字。）

但是那時，長頭發的美國乒乓選手在日本與世界第一的中國選手成了朋友。NBC記者目睹了這一罕見的跨國友誼成了國際性的新聞，美國隊成立20年來第一批受邀去神秘的中國的美國人。（這一舉動很好的表現了友好的意愿。）

“我從來沒有登上月球，但是那聽上去就好像登月一般遙遠?！?/P>

美國運動員收到中國國務院總理的親自接待。18，000人觀看了表演比賽，可以說，中國人讓美國隊贏了。

“你是否認為中國選手謙讓是因為你是美國訪問者？”

“是的?！?/P>

“你認為是這樣？”

“對 ，我是這樣認為。”

這一切震驚了尼克松政府?！斑@是一個很明顯的信號，中國人想從根本上改變兩國關系。”

白宮的磁帶記錄表明，尼克松意識到那些比賽是外交上的突破?！拔覀兿Ｍ鼙M一切努力突破這一點……我們似乎沒有去努力開拓?！?/P>

幾天之后，尼克松訪華，中國的大門向世界敞開。但是，中國的領導人說的更好。實質上，他們用一個小球滾動了世界這個打球。