Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. Xi-Trump phone call fails to spark much enthusiasm on Chinese factory floors
As two of the world’s most powerful leaders – President Xi Jinping and US counterpart Donald Trump – exchanged rare conciliatory words in a phone call that signalled a potential thaw in China-US tensions, the mood on factory floors in China remained far more restrained.
2. US Senate panel passes Taiwan, mainland China overseas military growth measures
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a slate of China-focused measures, including bipartisan bills to counter Beijing’s overseas military expansion and bolster Taiwan’s role in global finance while advancing the nomination of a former ambassador to lead US diplomacy in East Asia.
3. Caught in a bad bromance: Trump and Musk go for the throat – what just happened?

The gloves have come off as the besties turn on each other, attacking policy decisions, threatening repercussions and levelling scandalous accusations.