{
  "id": 9671998,
  "title": "From ping-pong to pickleball: China’s unofficial approach to diplomatic messaging",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/from-ping-pong-to-pickleball-chinas-unofficial-approach-to-diplomatic",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T01:30:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368733/ping-pong-pickleball-chinas-unofficial-approach-diplomatic-messaging"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged with US students who had exchanged with China this year, signaling a commitment to cooperation between the two nations. This strategy of utilizing unofficial channels, including prominent individuals and bridging organizations, has become increasingly prevalent in recent years due to the complexities of direct governmental communication amid rising tensions. During the trade war in 2018, Beijing leaned on influential figures like former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to convey its perspectives. Upon Kissinger's passing in 2023, Graham Allison, a Harvard professor and Kissinger's student, assumed this intermediary role. Beijing has also emphasized engagement with the American business community, with Premier Li Qiang meeting US-China Business Council representatives in Beijing. Apple, Boeing, and Nvidia are among the notable member companies. Furthermore, Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of people-to-people exchanges, such as pickleball events, as a means to strengthen China-US relations. Xi's administration also announced plans to invite 100,000 young Americans to study in China over the next five years, building on an initiative that exceeded its initial target. The Chinese government has also utilized historical ties, such as the legacy of the Flying Tigers and the \"Bond with Kuliang\" initiative, to foster goodwill and promote dialogue between the two nations.",
  "summary": "Before setting off for Washington on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping had some correspondence to attend to. Dozens of students from 10 US universities, including Harvard, had written to Xi about their experiences on an exchange trip to China this year. According to the State Council, Xi responded with a call to the students to advance cooperation between the two countries. The gesture…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC World",
        "title": "Atlanta is getting pandas: China's Xi revives a longtime diplomatic strategy at summit with U.S.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/atlanta-is-getting-pandas-chinas-xi-revives-a-longtime-diplomatic",
        "published": "2026-09-25T01:12:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "From ping-pong to pickleball: China’s unofficial approach to diplomatic messaging",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/from-ping-pong-to-pickleball-chinas-unofficial-approach-to-diplomatic-9672904",
        "published": "2026-09-25T01:30:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}