From ping-pong to pickleball: China’s unofficial approach to diplomatic messaging

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 extended a pattern. For decades, Beijing has often turned to unofficial channels, from prominent...