访谈录 2008-07-09&07-11 老美眼中的“乒乓外交”

With a world about to descend¹ 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 remarkable² 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 Premier³ 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 stunned⁴ 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.

 

1 descend   

vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降

参考例句：

• I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。
• We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。

2 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

3 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

4 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。