A former Australian prime minster said the Trump administration’s treatment of longtime allies was providing an opportunity for China, in remarks that came shortly before the US president delivered a personal rebuff.

As President Donald Trump seeks to end wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, his approach to both seems to boil down to giving the stronger party what it wants and pushing the weaker to accept it.

Xi Jinping has ordered the People’s Liberation Army to further root out corruption following a series of purges that have raised questions about China’s military preparedness, as the US Treasury Secretary said Washington was confident Beijing would not invade Taiwan while Donald Trump was in office.

China is retaliating against President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China by imposing additional 15% taxes on key American farm products, including chicken, pork, soybeans and beef.