Donald Trump will arrive in Beijing this week knowing that Xi holds all the cards | Simon Tisdall

The US president will be counting on China to influence Iran and help him out of his latest mess. But the price may be high – including for Taiwan Like an out-of-control wrecking ball, swinging wildly back and forth, Donald Trump smashes up the international order without much thought for the consequences. Lacking coherent strategies, workable plans or consistent aims, he power-trips erratically from one fragile region, tense warzone and complex geopolitical situation to another, leaving misery, confusion and rubble in his wake.