'The Great Wager' looks back at 50 years of US - China relations

Last week marked the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon's groundbreaking trip, to China.

Nixon met with then-President of the People's Republic of China, Chairman Mao Zedong.

That meeting was rooted in the politics of the Cold War, with both countries positioning themselves in opposition to The Soviet Union. The meeting also set into motion China's 'opening up' to the West, and with it - a massive economic boom for the country - which for the two decades prior, had been closed off to most outside trade, and outside influence.

To look back at the coming together of these two superpowers - WBUR radio, and Here and Now, which you can hear weekdays from noon to two here on WCPN - put together a 5 part podcast called ‘The Great Wager’.

Jane Perlez, the Beijing Bureau Chief for The New York Times, hosts the series, which not only beautifully sets the scene for the meeting, but also looks at the aftermath - and how US-China relations have soured in the decades since.

I recently sat down with Scott Tong from Here and Now to talk about the podcast, his perspective as a Chinese American, and how the recent Beijing Olympics played out on the diplomatic stage.

- Scott Tong, Host, ‘Here and Now’ WBUR Boston

- Rick Jackson, Senior Host, Ideastream Public Media