Mattis’ vital visit to China

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, who has accused China of “intimidation and coercion” in the South China Sea, is visiting Beijing this week as the countries increasingly spar over US arms sales to Taiwan and Beijing’s expanding military presence overseas.

Mr Mattis will be the first Defence Secretary in President Donald Trump’s administration to visit China.

Mr Mattis’ mission comes at a difficult time as the Trump administration is set to start taxing $34 billion in Chinese goods in two weeks while Beijing has vowed to retaliate with its own tariffs on US products.