This past June, when 19-year-old Yang Hansen became the first Chinese player drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) in nearly a decade, the news barely made headlines in Washington. But for millions of Chinese basketball fans, it marked a proud return to the global stage. It also offered a quiet glimpse of what constructive engagement between the world’s two superpowers could look like.
The relationship between the United States and China continues to be shaped by trade wars, military build-ups, and mutual suspicion. The two nations’ diplomatic language is cautious and heavily choreographed. Public opinion in both countries reflects rising anxiety and grievance. The space for constructive engagement is narrowing, and the opportunities to rebuild confidence are limited.
Yet basketball remains popular, emotionally resonant, and socially meaningful in both countries.
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