beijing does not want to "unseat" the united states as the world's superpower, but xi jinping tells president biden china's absorption of taiwan is inevitable. we will take you this hour to san francisco where the asia pacific countries are sitting down for a working lunch. in the uk rishi sunak�*s government will present new legislation to set aside the supreme court's ban on sending asylum seekers to rwanda. but backbench mps want assurances from number ten the bill will be tight enough to prevent future legal challenges. and what about labour. a party of government or a party of protest. the shadow front bench staged a mass rebellion last night, over keir starmer�*s stance on a ceasefire in gaza. we will get the thoughts on all of that from our panel tonight. with us labour'sjohn mctiernan, formerly tony blair director of political operations. also here tara setmeyer, former communications director for the republican party, and now a resident scholar at the university of virginia's centre for politics. good evening. xijinping got a standing ovation in san francisco yesterday, from a group of 300 top us executives who do business in china. they want to know as does the rest of the world what the chinese president has in mind. and there has been a change. the wolf warrior diplomacy which characterised the relationship for much of the past four years, has suddenly given way to panda diplomacy. softer more cuddly? well, no, not entirely — but the chinese president did speak for over half an hour about an enduring friendship between china and the united states that could not be diminished by all the recent turmoil. the number one question for us is: he said "are we adversaries or partners?" seeing the other side as a competitor, he added would only lead to misinformed policy and unwanted results. "well, the results of yesterdays meeting were positive. the two sides have agreed to restore military to military communications. there is an agreement to limit the export of chemical precursors to mexico, which have been used to produce fe nta nyl. and an agreement to begin a dialogue on artificial intelligence and how it relates to defence. we've heard from both leaders since in the day since that meeting — here's a little of what each had to say. during the several hours with the meeting with president xi, and i believe they were some of the most constructive and productive discussions we've had. i have been meeting with president xi since both of us were vice president over ten years ago. our meetings have always been candid, straightforward. we haven't always agreed but they've been straightforward. translation: i believe that once the door to china us relations - is open, it will not be closed again. once started, the calls of china us friendship cannot be derailed halfway. the tree of our peoples' friendship has grown tall and strong and it can surely withstand the assault of any wind or storm. this hourjoe biden is sitting for a working lunch with the 20 other asia pacific countries. they include indonesia, the phillipenes, australia, vietnam, japan, south korea all of whom form an important part of the united states defence posture in the indo—pacific region. let's talk to helena humphreys who is there watching the summit i thought you talked about climate change and is just one area, this is when area with the americans can find some compromise and a way forward with china. that agreement and talks on — forward with china. that agreement and talks on climate _ forward with china. that agreement and talks on climate change - forward with china. that agreement and talks on climate change was - forward with china. that agreement| and talks on climate change was set outjust and talks on climate change was set out just of the and talks on climate change was set outjust of the sideline meeting in terms of working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions particularly when it comes to methane of the 28th summit taking place in dubai is the matter of weeks but there are other areas of cooperation agreed on the saw. to communication when president biden spoke about that around an hour ago and received a round of applause and keepin and received a round of applause and keep in mind that even during the cold war, those channels of communication were open, i think that shows how frosty the communications of become. when it comes to fentanyl, there is an agreement to cooperate on tackling narcotic limiting in asked chemicals coming into the united states and will see whether or not that holds but president biden, that could be key to get a 2024 because that opioid epidemic, you know yourself from reporting and covering it in the united states, is devastating here. contributing to 75,000 deaths in the united states this year alone in the united states this year alone in the united states this year alone in the conversation piece with regards to ai in the conversation piece with regards to aland perhaps, china might agree to not integrate ai might agree to not integrate aland nuclear weapons and they haven't gotten there yet and to working group but nevertheless, even though it's a president biden and president xijinping at the end of it's a president biden and president xi jinping at the end of the press conference in the chinese foreign ministry replied saying that i was irresponsible ofjoe biden to call him a dictator, but the message coming out of the sideline and of the summit is the progress was made and this certainly was a constructive meeting. and this certainly was a constructive meetinu. . ~ , ., , constructive meeting. thank you very much. communication _ constructive meeting. thank you very much. communication and _ much. communication and collaboration with china is vital especially considering the middle east in ukraine. china holds the keys. it east in ukraine. china holds the ke s. east in ukraine. china holds the kes. .,. east in ukraine. china holds the kes. .. ., keys. it was problematic that the relationship _ keys. it was problematic that the relationship had _ keys. it was problematic that the relationship had become - keys. it was problematic that the relationship had become so - keys. it was problematic that the | relationship had become so frosty because we are reliant on each other. china is an enemy due to hegemonic aspirations around the world but ever since poor permanent normal trade relations happened, the economic relationship between the us and china has become so intertwined that we need them and they need us. and so, when the us and china are not speaking you have this tension in the south china sea and you see what's going on with ukraine and other parts of the world and relationship between china and russia, how does that impact taiwanese relationships, it is really complicated. to see that there's been some progress in the us and china and their respective counterparts are now back with an open line of communication, that is definitely progress for stability across the world. we definitely progress for stability across the world.— definitely progress for stability across the world. ~ ., across the world. we need each other but ou across the world. we need each other but you look — across the world. we need each other but you look at _ across the world. we need each other but you look at the _ across the world. we need each other but you look at the inflation _ across the world. we need each other but you look at the inflation effect - but you look at the inflation effect that chinese exports of that across the world last decade or so it would happen to the economy since covid—i9, you can see perhaps my both sides would want a relationship on trade. the both sides would want a relationship on trade. ,., . , on trade. the impact the chinese im orts on trade. the impact the chinese imports had _ on trade. the impact the chinese imports had on — on trade. the impact the chinese imports had on inflation - on trade. the impact the chinese imports had on inflation every i on trade. the impact the chinese i imports had on inflation every year, it's a _ imports had on inflation every year, it's a major— imports had on inflation every year, it's a major contribution in the standards_ it's a major contribution in the standards of living and working people — standards of living and working people and the thing we remember is, we have _ people and the thing we remember is, we have to _ people and the thing we remember is, we have to cooperate with china on many _ we have to cooperate with china on many challenges whether it's regulatory a higher doing the crisis. — regulatory a higher doing the crisis, but had to compete with china _ crisis, but had to compete with china in— crisis, but had to compete with china in some areas, economically but in _ china in some areas, economically but in security and defence and seeking — but in security and defence and seeking to collaborate and compete. ithink— seeking to collaborate and compete. llhink you _ seeking to collaborate and compete. i think you could challenge the relationship but there should never be collusion. and if there's a proper— be collusion. and if there's a proper relationship starting between the proper relationship starting between lhe us— proper relationship starting between the us and china, that is for the benefit — the us and china, that is for the benefit of— the us and china, that is for the benefit of all of us as long as the core _ benefit of all of us as long as the core values — benefit of all of us as long as the core values that we stand for and democracy, — core values that we stand for and democracy, human rights, those are respected _ democracy, human rights, those are respected in — democracy, human rights, those are respected in the case is made on them _ respected in the case is made on them an— respected in the case is made on them an essential part of that is them an essential part of that is the continued independence of time and is _ we have seen conflict ripping apart the past _ we have seen conflict ripping apart the past couple of years we do not want more — the past couple of years we do not want more-— want more. probably positive in australia has _ want more. probably positive in australia has been _ want more. probably positive in australia has been to _ want more. probably positive in australia has been to beijing i want more. probably positive in | australia has been to beijing and thatis australia has been to beijing and that is a step forward and setting the tone here in the united states. 0ne the tone here in the united states. one line that stands out as this line the beijing's absorption of taiwan is inevitable and that its implications for everyone else sitting at the table. you never leave any _ sitting at the table. you never leave any of — sitting at the table. you never leave any of these _ sitting at the table. you never| leave any of these conferences about one or two provocative sentences that they slip in there. and that is one of them. taiwan is a hot spot thatis one of them. taiwan is a hot spot that is a point of contention for years and it will continue to be and we do need to ensure that taiwan's independence from china does not see escalation of only. it would not be good for anyone involved. but, china will always assert itself in this issue because they do not recognise taiwan as being an independent state. it's important to understand that even though we see it as the cooling of the relationship, you start to be very keen on what's going on behind the scenes but beijing is doing, particularly with its relationship with russia. in europe and how that plays out as far as weaponry, as far as strategic alliances. we need to be very careful that we do not underestimate china's wish to overtake the united states is the superpower in the world. trust but verify as a president once said. the labour leader sir keir starmer says he is more concerned by the crisis in gaza than the unity within his party, after 10 mps were either sacked or resigned from his frontbench last night over their opposition to his stance on a ceasefire. eight of his shadow ministers and two parliamentary private secretaries left his top team, after defying the party whip. they voted for a ceasefire rather than backing his calls for so—called "humanitarian pauses". among the most high profile resignation wasjess phillips who said she was leaving the shadow cabinet with a "heavy heart". the labour leader has given an interview to itv tonight. let me just read you the statement he gave them. you wouldn't expect me to stand here today and say my concern what happens in the labour party or anywhere in the commons is not going to have a dramatic affect on what is happening in the middle east. but voters will look at a party that is leading in the polls, preparing for government and will question whether the shadow front bench as a veneer over a party of protest in the back benches. is it? . over a party of protest in the back benches. is it?— benches. is it? , you phrase that well, preparing for _ benches. is it? , you phrase that well, preparing for government, | benches. is it? , you phrase that - well, preparing for government, that is in keir_ well, preparing for government, that is in keir starmer's mine, and this is in keir starmer's mine, and this is 12_ is in keir starmer's mine, and this is 12 months— is in keir starmer's mine, and this is 12 months ahead, after a general election— is 12 months ahead, after a general election when he was with the government as prime minister in the same _ government as prime minister in the same things said as of the labour prime _ same things said as of the labour prime ministers in norway and australia — prime ministers in norway and australia assist the parties in spain — australia assist the parties in spain or— australia assist the parties in spain or in germany, they're not going _ spain or in germany, they're not going for— spain or in germany, they're not going for a — spain or in germany, they're not going for a cease—fire, they're gone for extended humanitarian calls and you do— for extended humanitarian calls and you do not— for extended humanitarian calls and you do not have to be stuck i may have _ you do not have to be stuck i may have to _ you do not have to be stuck i may have to bring in all the necessary supplies— have to bring in all the necessary supplies but you have to remember at the very— supplies but you have to remember at the very beginning of this, what keir starmer said, their hostages, stanch— keir starmer said, their hostages, stanch the — keir starmer said, their hostages, stanch the people being held hostage tty stanch the people being held hostage by hamas— stanch the people being held hostage by hamas and the difficulty in the labour— by hamas and the difficulty in the labour party is not a difference of principle — labour party is not a difference of principle or— labour party is not a difference of principle or the outcome, i think of them _ principle or the outcome, i think of them peace — principle or the outcome, i think of them peace and security in israel and palestine but peace and security that is— and palestine but peace and security that is therein guaranteed for both sides _ that is therein guaranteed for both sides that— that is therein guaranteed for both sides. that is a two state solution and international effort is needed to get— and international effort is needed to get there and also one which understands israel is going to have to respond — understands israel is going to have to respond to the terror attack and israel— to respond to the terror attack and lsrael in _ to respond to the terror attack and lsrael in the — to respond to the terror attack and israel in the israeli government in the lsraeli — israel in the israeli government in the israeli people what the hostages hack _ the israeli people what the hostages back the _ the israeli people what the hostages back. the difficulty of the labour party— back. the difficulty of the labour party is — back. the difficulty of the labour party is that some people say, other members _ party is that some people say, other members or— party is that some people say, other members or mps in front benches believe _ members or mps in front benches believe that what we say in britain, our commentary on that might affect what's _ our commentary on that might affect what's going on in the middle east. 0nly america can bring the effort and the _ 0nly america can bring the effort and the energy under israel and on the countries like qatar can bring pressure — the countries like qatar can bring pressure on hamas to release the hostages — pressure on hamas to release the hostages. because of the end of the day, the _ hostages. because of the end of the day, the quickest way to change what is happening on the ground would be for hamas— is happening on the ground would be for hamas to release the hostages because _ for hamas to release the hostages because then they could go into a completely different phase. the ener: completely different phase. the energy they _ completely different phase. tue: energy they need completely different phase. tte: energy they need to bear, completely different phase. t'te: energy they need to bear, we'll completely different phase. t“te: energy they need to bear, we'll talk about it in the second before we move on from labour�*s issues. in some ways, what is happening is peculiar to the middle east. but yes, people would be keir starmer and say he is holding this position under enormous pressure from his back benches but government is contentious with many issues that appear when you are the governing party and they will want to know that at every turn, there aren't going to be eight or ten people resigned being from the shadow front bench, does he have his full party behind him seeking government take these difficult decisions?— these difficult decisions? probably these difficult decisions? probably the opposition _ these difficult decisions? probably the opposition parties _ these difficult decisions? probably the opposition parties is _ these difficult decisions? probably the opposition parties is the - these difficult decisions? probably the opposition parties is the worstj the opposition parties is the worst defeats— the opposition parties is the worst defeats as — the opposition parties is the worst defeats as the 1930s as the labour has run _ defeats as the 1930s as the labour has run 200 and peace of the general election— has run 200 and peace of the general election with the current pulse, labour— election with the current pulse, labour at— election with the current pulse, labour at 400 and peace. they prev love a _ labour at 400 and peace. they prev love a talent to choose from but you have to _ love a talent to choose from but you have to choose well and people have decisions _ have to choose well and people have decisions to make and there would need _ decisions to make and there would need to— decisions to make and there would need to be — decisions to make and there would need to be back benches and their constituencies that represent their people _ constituencies that represent their people i_ constituencies that represent their people. i think here, especially once _ people. i think here, especially once keir— people. i think here, especially once keir starmer stands for, it's pretty— once keir starmer stands for, it's pretty clear — once keir starmer stands for, it's pretty clear what he stands for, has _ pretty clear what he stands for, has been — pretty clear what he stands for, he's been really clear of the gaza conflict _ he's been really clear of the gaza conflict and that clarity is o