Amid a trade war, Xi Jinping may be purging China’s armed forces

In Beijing, springtime warmth has begun to draw queues to restaurants that offer al fresco dining; trendy shopping districts are growing more crowded. Mr Jia, a 36-year-old investor, says he is

not bothered by America’s tariffs

. Standing outside his friend’s cupcake shop, he says US President Donald Trump’s levies are a sign that America feels threatened by China’s rise. America’s power is declining, he says. “To be honest, what you feel in today’s world is that hegemony is very hard to achieve.”

The trade war is everywhere in China. State media is trumpeting President Xi Jinping’s support for “multilateralism and international trade rules”. News broadcasts have been at pains to show

Mr Xi on a visit to South-east Asia,

“creating development opportunities” and supporting “regional economic integration” in the face of Maga protectionism.