Both sides were looking at this meeting as a way to bring the temperature down on this confrontational stand that both countries are taking against each other. Officials on the two sides spent months planning for this meeting and the stakes were much higher for China. The trip by Tony Blinken was seen as a big symbolic step in re-engagement to a certain degree with the US.
On Wednesday, residents in Montana saw a mysterious object — a balloon — hovering and bobbing around in the skies. The enigma brought Americans out to squint at the heavens, caused a diplomatic visit to be canceled and opened a political debate.
How did a balloon end up kindling such tension between Washington and Beijing?
Guest: Edward Wong, a diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
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