Here is a
benign example of China's indirect approach. After the 1969
Ussuri river battles between China and Russia President Nixon perceived an opportunity for improvement in Sino-U.S. relations; there was no diplomatic contact between the two countries because the U.S. recognized the Nationalists in Taiwan as the legal government of all China. In this slow-motion opening Pakistan secretly played a central role. Through them the Chinese were told that President Nixon wanted to go to China and make the improvement in relations public. But how could the Chinese be sure they weren't walking into some sort of trap where China could be blamed for anything that went wrong?
Their solution became known as
Ping-Pong Diplomacy: American ping-pong players competing at a tournament in Japan were "spontaneously" invited by the Chinese team to visit China. The American team leader fell into the "trap" and accepted. The visit was trumpeted with great fanfare and friendliness. Now having welcomed the American ping-pong players so warmly, Nixon
couldn't entrap China by saying he had tried to improve relations but failed due to Chinese intransigence - but of course Nixon of course had no such intention and celebrated the U.S. team's visit along with everyone else. Reassured of Nixon's intentions, the Chinese proceeded to open up relations rapidly.