Trump-Xi summit preparations falter as planning gaps unsettle Beijing, via SCMP

• Less than six weeks ahead of a likely summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, preparations are inadequate, bilateral contacts anaemic and outcomes diminished, according to analysts and former government officials familiar with planning.
• Analysts cited outline that China wants a "many-months process" to prepare for such a summit, expressing frustration around how limited US diplomatic channels are. However, Stimson's Sun notes, "March is the only window. If the Chinese need to scramble, they can and they will, for a presidential visit".

The faltering preparations for the Trump-Xi summit underline escalating diplomatic tensions between the US and China. With insufficient contact and inadequate planning just weeks before the event, markets may react with increased volatility in risk assets and currencies, especially in USD, JPY, and GBP as geopolitical concerns heighten.