A: Hey Yumi, any news from back home?
B: Not really, just the usual stuff. But what's up with you?

A: So I heard about this thing with the new US consul in Hong Kong...
B: Oh yeah? What happened?

A: She met with some pro-democracy leaders there and China is really mad about it!
B: No way! Who did she meet with exactly?

A: They say she talked separately with Anson Chan and Emily Lau. The Chinese Foreign Ministry even warned her not to mess with their domestic affairs!
B: That sounds intense! What did the US say about this?

A: Well, the State Department said that US diplomats are just trying to look after their country's interests in Hong Kong.
B: Wow, that must have really riled up China... especially with all the trade and tariff issues they already have going on.

A: Yeah, it does. And this happened just before Trump and Xi Jinping are supposed to meet at some event in South Korea later this month.
B: That could make for an interesting meeting! Let's hope things don't escalate too much.