Dear reader,

China may be an atheist state but Donald Trump’s attack on Pope Leo and portrayal of himself as a Christ-like figure were met with disbelief in the country. Trump’s lack of respect for the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics reflects a complete lack of restraint and the depiction of himself as Jesus is beyond laughable. For many, the US president's eruption of ego also points to an equally great internal failure. In Chinese philosophy, too much pride on the outside is a sign of profound weakness on the inside – and an inability to reconcile reality with self-delusion. Not the kind of impression you want to make just before a summit.

For a deep dive into the US-Israeli war on Iran, read our three-part series on the impacts of the conflict and the lessons China can draw from it. 

The Big Picture

Strait forward  
Trump says he exchanged letters with Xi Jinping on the Iran war and that the conflict will not derail his visit to Beijing.

• Why it matters: the US risks becoming entangled in a forever war when its main strategic focus is China
• So, how are preparations going for the Trump-Xi summit?
• Also, Trump says the war is close to over but is he just running out of options?
• And, can Iran’s small boats challenge the US Navy?
• Meanwhile, what is the EU’s new strategy against China and why has Japan announced a US$10 billion energy shield for Southeast Asia?
• And, how is the next round of the US-Iran talks shaping up?

Reboot ties
Beijing unveils a 10-point plan to boost cross-strait exchanges.

• Why it matters: it could mean the restoration of direct flights with Taiwan and economic support for the island’s economy
• So, what is the one big thing Xi is stressing in Beijing’s approach to Taiwan?
• Meanwhile, how have Taiwan’s industries responded to the proposals?
• And, what does Japan’s expanded role in a US-Philippine military drill mean for a Taiwan conflict?

Wins and Falls

Jin Lei faces his first major test as the Communist Party chief of Shenzhen 

Major General Feng Yufang is remembered as a leading missile scientist

Big Numbers

5% – China’s better-than-expected GDP growth in the first quarter

US$693.3 billion – China’s holdings of US Treasuries in February

-2.8% – the drop of China’s crude oil imports in March

Direct Quote

“Time is on Iran's side. They can afford a stalemate, whereas the US cannot. Despite suffering heavy losses, Iran is willing to bear a higher cost for the sake of strategic patience.”

Niu Xinchun, director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, weighs in on how much Iran could endure in the war with the US and Israel