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Welcome to our coverage of US politics and the war with Iran.
Donald Trump has landed in Beijing for his critical meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
It’s not just members of Mr Trump’s cabinet travelling. Elon Musk is back in favour – Tesla has been affected by US sanctions on China – and Nvidia boss Jensen Huang and Apple’s Tim Cook are all in the US party.
As the US President descended for Air Force One, he was greeted to a rapturous welcome including scores of military guards in ceremonial uniforms and schoolchildren waving US and Chinese flags as they chanted “welcome, welcome … very important guest”.
It was a telling detail of the buttering up China intends to slather on Mr Trump for the two day meet up. At least in public, the President will be showered with attention.
Taiwan is watching nervously from the sidelines.
Mr Trump may want China’s help to bring the Iran conflict to some kind of conclusion and for trade disputes to be smoothed out.
But Beijing may want something in return: a watering down of the US’ decades’ old commitment to Taiwan’s security. The independent in all but name democracy has never been ruled by Communist China. But Beijing covets the island nation.
Read on for more updates.
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