"He read this document and then there was this moment of silence, " Maggiolo said.

CNN: Vito Maggiolo: 'I challenged the Chinese'

Then an ABC producer came in, Maggiolo recalls, and read and translated the document.

CNN: Vito Maggiolo: 'I challenged the Chinese'

"Miran was telling them that we had a document that said we could transmit until such and such a time, " Maggiolo recalls.

CNN: Vito Maggiolo: 'I challenged the Chinese'

Maggiolo's so-called "chop challenge" brought another brief moment of silence before one of the Chinese officials said the document didn't need a chop because it had his signature on it.

CNN: Vito Maggiolo: 'I challenged the Chinese'