Anthony Albanese faces diplomatic tightrope in China as spectre of Trump and Aukus review looms large

PM jets to Beijing to strengthen ties as multibillion-dollar US submarine deal spurred by China's military buildup hangs in doubt

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Anthony Albanese departs for his second trip to China with the spectre of Donald Trump looming large over meetings with Xi Jinping.

While the prime minister flies to Beijing to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties with Australia's largest trading partner, a nervous eye must stay on the US's promised Aukus nuclear submarines: military commitments of hundreds of billions of dollars, spending spurred by China's own military buildup, now under review by the US defence department. According to some reports, they are a potential bargaining chip from a Trump administration seeking guarantees of support in any conflict over Taiwan.

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