Mr Trump’s breezy style has long disconcerted China’s leaders. In the spring of 2017 he called Mr Xi so often to ask for help with North Korea that Chinese envoys eventually delivered a discreet message to American contacts. Mr Xi is “not our North Korean desk officer”, they pleaded: let underlings handle most of this.

Cambodia is a key political ally and trading partner for China in Asia. Xi is expected to meet Cambodian Prime Minster Hun Manet as the two countries celebrate 67 years of diplomatic ties.

Donald Trump suggests tariffs are vital for US war preparedness. He hints at pharmaceutical tariffs to reduce reliance on China. Beijing retaliates with rare earth mineral export suspensions. This impacts US factories,