Antony Blinken tackles a tough China visit. Will it help? - BBC News

Blinken's trip is a sign of improved US-China ties, but the two still view each other with suspicion.

10 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Katherina Tse/BBCImage caption, The Beijing Cyclones is among several American football clubs that have sprung up in China in recent yearsBy Laura Bicker, Tom Bateman and Tessa Wongin Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore"Three, two, one - hut!" shouts quarterback Mu Yang, as he throws the ball across the field.

His Beijing Cyclones teammate Henry Mu sprints to the corner for the catch, his studs thudding off the AstroTurf as he jumps for the ball.

"I was so surprised to find American football here," says Henry as he catches his breath. "It's very tough, physically and mentally, you must defeat your fear."

Here, men and women play together in a team sport that you'd associate more with Baltimore than Beijing.

For many Americans, this is more than just a game - it is an expression of their national identity. For this Chinese team, it is something new - there are only a few thousand players in China, but millions of fans.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-68894782

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