'Bombshell' leaked US intelligence says 'China outmanoeuvring America' — Thursday 14 May 2026A leaked US intelligence assessment has delivered a stark warning that China is outmanoeuvring America at a critical moment, capitalising on President Trump's deepening entanglement in the Iran conflict. The documents, shared with American media, suggest Beijing is quietly consolidating influence across key regions while Washington remains distracted by missile strikes and regional fallout. This comes just weeks before the much-anticipated US-China summit, raising questions about whether the American negotiating position has already been weakened. BBC diplomatic editor Mark Urban examines these developments in the latest edition of The Fourcast Indicators, highlighting how the leaks point to a strategic recalibration in Asia that could leave US allies exposed. With Trump facing domestic pressure over the costs of the Iran campaign, the assessment argues that China is accelerating its economic and military outreach without direct confrontation. The timing could hardly be more awkward for an administration that has long touted its tough stance on Beijing. For Britain, the implications are immediate. Any perceived erosion of American leverage in the Pacific directly affects our own efforts to secure post-Brexit trade agreements while maintaining intelligence cooperation through the Five Eyes alliance. Ministers in London will be watching the summit closely, aware that a distracted Washington might push for quicker concessions on technology and security that could clash with UK interests. As ever, the special relationship offers reassurance, yet the leaks serve as a reminder that global power shifts rarely wait for any single leader to catch up.Watch the full video from Channel 4 News below.