This week on Sinica, I chat with University of Melbourne transnational historian Pete Millwood about his outstanding book Improbable Diplomats: How Ping-Pong Players, Musicians, and Scientists Remade U.S.-China Relations. The road to normalization is told too often with a focus only on the Nixon-Kissinger opening and official diplomatic efforts culminating in the final recognition of the PRC in January 1979, but there's much more to the story than that, and Millwood tells it deftly, drawing on extensive archival research as well as interviews with many of those directly involved.
Amazing- thank you! What a testament to the efforts of everyday people working to connect on a person-to-person level in so many inspiring ways, while our political leaders were busy making all their "noise." Such an important history to illuminate and shine a light on our current era. Great to be reminded of the many courageous efforts by Americans and Chinese at so many levels who worked so hard to reach across the abyss without the conveniences of technology. Kaiser, you're doing god's work. Thank you Pete Millwood, such important untold details for such a monumental period in world history.
Amazing- thank you! What a testament to the efforts of everyday people working to connect on a person-to-person level in so many inspiring ways, while our political leaders were busy making all their "noise." Such an important history to illuminate and shine a light on our current era. Great to be reminded of the many courageous efforts by Americans and Chinese at so many levels who worked so hard to reach across the abyss without the conveniences of technology. Kaiser, you're doing god's work. Thank you Pete Millwood, such important untold details for such a monumental period in world history.