This news was a notice given to him by his immediate boss Mike when Tang Ning was employed in the Propaganda Department, and this matter found him because of his former military background, whether it was Old Mac or the military, they all trusted Tang Ning's military background, and he has been in the munitions business all these years, and his credit in the military has always been very good; Second, Kissinger's secret visit to China needed an excuse and cover, but there were not many people who could provide this support, so the military chose Downing among the limited options.

Historically, Kissinger's secret visit to China actually took a lot of twists and turns, first the White House press secretary announced at a regular meeting: "President Nixon is about to send Dr. Kissinger to South Vietnam from July 2 to 5 to carry out a fact-finding mission, and then to Paris to meet with David Kissinger in Paris. Bruce Consultation. On Kissinger's journey to Paris, he will meet with officials from Thailand, India and Pakistan. ”

Kissinger then left Washington on July 1 for three days in Saigon and a one-day stay in Bangkok. Arrived in New Delhi on the 6th and Islamabad on the 8th. In order not to upset India, it was announced that he would also stay in Pakistan for only two days. But in order to visit China secretly, he pretended to have a stomachache at the dinner on the 8th. Yahya. President Khan loudly announced that the weather in Islamabad was too hot to affect Kissinger's health, and asked him to go to the presidential villa in Natia Gali to recuperate and get away from the pursuit of reporters. At 4:30 a.m. on 9 July, Kissinger arrived in Beijing with Zhang Wenjin and others on the Pakistani Civil Aviation 707 plane. This shows how much it takes.

Now with Downing's cooperation, there is no need to be so troublesome, as the boss of Japan, it is very normal for American executive Kissinger to visit Japan for exchanges, and it is even more normal to visit the so-called "old friend" in his mouth and visit the industry of American businessman Tony Downing in Japan, and now Okinawa is run by Downing like an iron bucket. On the island, no one will know what he doesn't want people to know, and when the time comes, Kissinger can go wherever he wants, and Downing will cover for him anyway.

As for why Dr. Kissinger, who is the national security adviser, wants to visit China secretly this time, there is also a reason. Since Nixon became president of the United States in 1969, he has had two things on his mind: one is to do something amazing to make himself famous in history; The first is to try to be re-elected as the next president. The first consideration for foreign countries is: take the initiative to reconcile with China; With the help of China, it will get out of Vietnam and counter the Soviet Union. Therefore, his first order after taking office was to ask National Security Advisor Dr. Kissinger to "explore the possibility of re-engaging with the Chinese." After the Sino-Soviet Zhenbao Island incident in '69, Nixon thought the time was ripe. On the eve of his visit to Asia and Europe in July, China announced the relaxation of restrictions on people's movement and trade exchanges with China.

On October 25, 1970, Nixon met with Pakistani President Yahya Yahya at the White House. Khan pointed out that Sino-US relations are very important, and he wants to move toward reconciliation with China. The United States will never conspire with the Soviet Union to oppose China, and is willing to send a high-ranking envoy to visit China secretly. Please Yahya. Khan acted as an intermediary to provide assistance. Yahya. Khan readily agreed.

Soon, Yahya. Khan visited China. On October 10, during a private meeting with Premier Zhou, he conveyed a message from Nixon, saying that Nixon wanted to make peace with China and was willing to engage in limited trade with China. The United States wants to have a secret conversation at a higher level. He is also prepared to send a high-ranking envoy to talk to China with Murphy and Dewey at any time and anywhere. Nixon also hinted that if China were to hold talks at the official level, he could send his main adviser, Kissinger, there. He eagerly awaited a reply from China. Premier Zhou gave an official reply on November 14. Khan said that if Nixon really had the desire and method to resolve Taiwan and other key issues, the Chinese Government would welcome the US special envoy to China for talks, and the timing might be agreed upon through the Pakistani president. Yahya. After returning to China, Khan sent a special person to send Premier Zhou's reply message (a handwritten memorandum without title and signature) to the Pakistani ambassador to the United States, asking him to convey it orally to Kissinger. Soon Kissinger replied. The United States agreed to accept the invitation and is ready to hold high-level talks in Beijing. Discuss a wide range of issues that exist between the United States and China, including Taiwan.

In fact, before Kissinger's visit to China, China took the first step to express its attitude, that is, "ping-pong diplomacy." In April 1971, the 31st World Table Tennis Championships was held in Nagoya, Japan, and the Chinese leaders seized the opportunity to make a decision to invite the American table tennis team to visit China. It has opened the door to friendly exchanges between the peoples of the two countries one step ahead.

During the 31st Table Tennis Tournament, the US table tennis delegation told the Chinese table tennis delegation that it hoped to visit China after the competition. When the news returned to Beijing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Sports Commission jointly drafted a report on "not inviting the US table tennis team to visit China" and submitted it to the premier. It is considered that the opportunity to invite the American team is not yet ripe. On 4 April, the Prime Minister submitted the report to the President after annotating it with the words "intended to agree".

On April 6, 1971, when the competition was coming to an end, the chairman suddenly changed his original intention and made a decision to read the report on "not inviting the American table tennis team to visit China" and withdraw from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for processing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was instructed to notify the responsible person of the Chinese table tennis delegation in Japan by telephone and formally invite the US table tennis delegation to visit China.

On April 10, 1971, the president and head of the United States Table Tennis Association and athletes Cohen and Resek arrived in Beijing. Premier Zhou Enlai made specific arrangements for the visit, pointing out that this visit is a very good opportunity to open up the situation in Sino-US relations.

On April 14, 1971, Premier Zhou met with table tennis delegations from the United States, Canada, Colombia and other countries in the Great Hall of the People, and had a long conversation with the American delegation. The table tennis teams of China and the United States held a friendly match. American friends also visited the Great Wall and visited Tsinghua University and other places. After that, the prime minister extended an invitation to the US head of state to visit China through Pakistan.

Although Kissinger had never met Downing, he knew that there was a very well-known American businessman in Okinawa, Japan, and he was a soldier, who started as a quartermaster, and had contacts with many high-ranking officials and high-ranking military officials in China, so he chatted with Downing while waiting for the plane: "Tony, I can call you that, you are so close to China here, have you ever been to China or have any contact with them?" (To be continued.) )