In July 1971, Kissinger, then US National Security Advisor, made a clandestine visit to the People’s Republic of China – then America’s sworn enemy. At the time China was isolated from the outside world amidst the chaos of the Cultural Revolution. America was looking for a way out of the Vietnam war. Both countries had had no contact for over 20 years. Fifty years on, the US and China are at a historic crossroads. So what happened since Kissinger stepped on Chinese soil in that summer half a century ago? How did we get to where we are today?

This post was originally published on The Documentary Podcast.