US President Donald Trump is arriving in Asia for a whirlwind week of diplomacy, which includes a much-anticipated meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Top of the agenda between the two will be trade – an area where tensions between the world's two biggest economies have once again been ramping up. Trump lands in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, as a summit for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, begins on Sunday. He will then visit Japan and finally South Korea, where the White House says he will meet Xi.

Inking new trade deals that provide opportunities to American businesses while keeping the tariff revenue flowing into the US Treasury is sure to be a central focus of Trump's Asia trip. While there are multiple players in the global trade dance, the key to Trump's success or failure is China. Moreover, China's Xi is expected to take a tougher negotiator’s stance this time, leveraging assets such as rare earths vital for numerous technologies.

"Peace deals" are also on the horizon, with Trump keen on mediating between Thailand and Cambodia during his visit to Malaysia. This is just part of a larger drive to normalize relations with Southeast Asian nations, amid their economic dependency on both the US and China.

The week ahead is set to be pivotal, as Trump juggles discussions on tariffs, trade, and international relations while ensuring his standing with a wary global audience.