Is Washington's 'America First' strategy at play?
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For 20 years after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, formal contact between Beijing and Washington was rare. The countries finally established diplomatic ties in 1979, giving them a formal platform to grow their relations and iron out contentious issues. This was aided by the establishment of other diplomatic channels over the years, such as embassies and consulates. So what do this week's closures mean for their relationship?