A series of serendipitous interactions between Chinese and American ping-pong players helped thaw the ice between their two governments in the 1970s. The shocking success of “ping-pong diplomacy” shows the unexpectedly major role that can sports can play in bridging hostile divides and bringing together former foes on a common playing field.

Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping’s famous “hide our capabilities and bide our time” dictum once guided China’s approach to foreign policy. Now, political commentators ask if Xi has completely foregone Deng’s strategy.

Two historic events 40 years ago have turned China into a global economic power and benefited U.S. interests.

The anniversary of ‘reform and opening’ has sparked a contest of narratives about who was responsible.

President Xi Jinping has been labelled a “president for life” and a “new emperor.” The future of Chinese politics has been assessed by commentators as a “reversion to the days of Mao Zedong.” However, resorting to these old paradigms prevents us from seeing the differences between the past and the present.

Responding to a recent opinion editorial in The Washington Post, Stephen Harner writes that now is the time for U.S. leaders to join with disruptors of history, like Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter, to proactively promote change in U.S.-China relations.

With August 22, 2014 marking the 110th Anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s birth, Yu Sui reflects on the role this remarkable date plays in China’s foreign policy and how Xi Jinping has carried on Deng’s work.

While many wonder if Xi Jinping will be a reformer in the mode of Deng Xiaoping, Yukon Huang writes China's regional decentralization of political power will expedite reforms and lead to more representative local elections.