Final answer:
Forrest Gump became a member of the US ping-pong team that visited China, symbolizing a thaw in relations between the two countries after decades of tension stemming from the Communist Party's victory in the Chinese Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
After serving in the war, Forrest Gump became a member of the United States ping-pong team that visited China during a time when diplomatic relations were being reestablished. This event was part of a diplomatic initiative following years of tension, which began after WWII when the Communist victory led by Mao Zedong in the Chinese Civil War altered the geopolitical landscape. The historic visit to China by the U.S. ping-pong team occurred in the context of improving relations between the two countries, which was further epitomized by President Nixon's visit in 1972, the first by a U.S. president since the Communist takeover.