NEW: Chinese companies have discussed secretly selling weapons to Iran through third countries to hide the shipments, according to U.S. intelligence.

Officials aren’t sure whether any weapons were actually delivered.

U.S. intelligence previously suggested China may have considered sending MANPADS (portable anti-aircraft missiles) to Iran. Officials also say China has already helped Iran with intelligence, satellite support, and dual-use technology used for drones and missiles.

Source: NYT

The U.S. and China have agreed that no country should charge shipping tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the State Department.

The issue was discussed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi ahead of a Trump–Xi summit in Beijing.

Source: Reuters

China is gaining strategic advantages from the Iran war, according to a confidential U.S. intelligence report. The assessment says Beijing is benefiting diplomatically, economically, and militarily while the U.S. expends resources in the conflict.

Key findings include:

China sold weapons to Gulf countries during Iranian attacks.

Beijing helped countries manage energy shortages after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz.

The war depleted U.S. missile and defense stockpiles, raising concerns about readiness for a Taiwan conflict.

China is studying U.S. military operations and using anti-war messaging to portray America as destabilizing.

Analysts say the conflict is improving China’s global influence and weakening U.S. standing with allies.

Source: WaPo

NOW: Trump and Xi Jinping meet in Beijing.

Trump shakes hands with Chinese officials, while Xi shakes hands with members of the U.S. delegation, including Eric Trump.

Chinese children are also welcoming Trump to China.

The remains of a second missing US soldier, 19-year-old Spc Mariyah Symone Collington, were recovered in Morocco after a large US-Moroccan search operation.

She and 1st Lt Kendrick Lamont Key Jr died after falling off a cliff during an off-duty hike while participating in the African Lion military exercises.

The U.S. Army abruptly canceled the planned deployment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division — more than 4,000 soldiers — to Poland.

Officials gave no public explanation, though reports point to a major Army budget shortfall tied to ongoing operations and deployments.

The brigade had already begun preparations, with some personnel and equipment reportedly en route.

Source: Defense News

Fox News anchor Bret Baier described Beijing’s extensive surveillance camera network after his crew received a parking ticket within minutes of stopping illegally.

Xi to Trump:

The whole world is watching our meeting.

Xi to Trump:

Can we, in the interest of the well-being of our two peoples and the future of humanity, build a brighter future together for our bilateral relations?

Xi to Trump:

Currently, transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe and the international situation is fluid and turbulent.

The world has come to a new crossroads.

Xi to Trump:

I always believed that our two countries have more common interests than differences.

Success in one is an opportunity for the other, and a stable bilateral relationship is good for the world.

China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. We should be partners, not rivals.

We should help each other succeed, prosper together, and find the right way for major countries to get along in the new era.

Trump to Xi:

I was particularly impressed by those children. They were happy, they were beautiful. Those children were amazing and they represent so much.

Trump to Xi:

You are a great leader. I say it to everybody, that you are a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway because it’s true.

I only say the truth.

Trump to Xi:

It’s an honor to be with you. It’s an honor to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.

Marco Rubio on Cuba:

This is a country where people are literally eating garbage from the streets.

Reporter: How were the talks sir?

Trump: Great. China is beautiful.

Reporter: Did you talk about Taiwan?

Trump: (No answer)