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With the aid of the 'butterfly effect' theory, this article investigates the role of ordinary individuals, both Chinese and American, in the formulation, implementation and promotion of 'Ping Pong Diplomacy, which brought about the US-China rapprochement in the early 1970s. Through examining the twists and turns in the process of 'Ping Pong Diplomacy' making, this study intends to bring one's attention to a number of seemingly less significant historical episodes and their long-term impact on US-China relations. Like small butterflies whose spontaneous actions can generate unexpected climatic changes, the various individuals in this study, including players and officials of the table-tennis teams, low-ranking diplomats and journalists, played an indispensable part in bringing forth a dramatic transformation in US-China relations, which in turn altered the Cold War climate in general.
I. Introduction
The butterfly effect was discovered by Edward Lorenz, an MIT meteorologist, in the early 1960s. Based upon mathematical investigation, this theory attempts to make sense out of seemingly chaotic and unrelated circumstances and, in doing so it has managed to interpret the inherent connections between distant and sometimes negligible events. According to the theory, a butterfly flapping its wings at just the right time in Beijing can affect the weather in New York City some days later. In other words, within a sufficiently complex system, very small events may trigger a much larger reaction in a geographically rather remote place. It demonstrates that the long-term effect of certain seemingly inconsequential occurrences is often difficult, if not impossible, to forecast.1
There are at least three implications of the butterfly effect on US-China relations. First, the role of ordinary people and small incidents cannot be underestimated or ignored because a small 'butterfly' may change the direction of foreign relations. Second, there are few 'laws' and historical inevitabilities when it comes to explain the complex causes for major changes because it is hard for human beings to predicate and control the numerous coincidences in history. Third, a butterfly can either cause or dissipate a storm. In other words, an individual may quicken or delay the pace of historic development.
Signaled by the American table-tennis team's visit to China in April 1971, 'Ping-Pong Diplomacy' created a butterfly effect on the process of normalizing US-China relations after 22...