1.How long will the visit last?

About three days, from Jun. 26 to 28.

2.When was the last time a U.S. Defense Secretary visited China?

He is the first Pentagon chief to visit China since 2014.

3.Why does his visit attract so much attention?

His visit comes against “a lot of tensions between Beijing and Washington over trade”. 

4.What will Mattis do during the visit?

Mattis will hold talks with senior Chinese military leaders. Some meetings may be arranged based on the situation, but whether the activities will happen depends on the US attitude. Zhou bo, the director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission, said both parties will discuss their positions and bottom lines. Mattis will better understand the intention and attitude of China.

5.What are Mattis’ intentions?

Mattis said, "I'm going there to have a conversation." He sought "open dialogue" at a strategic level when he met with military officials in Beijing.

6.What is Chinese government attitude towards Mattis’ visit?

The two sides will exchange views on China-US relations, military ties and issues of mutual interest, according to a regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Jun. 26 .“We believe that as long as we continue to follow this spirit and meet each other halfway, there will be no insurmountable difficulties,” the spokesman of  the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.