DID Press: Donald Trump said he may postpone his planned trip to China later this month as Washington presses Beijing to help reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump said he expects China to play a role in reopening the key oil transit route before his visit to Beijing. The meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping had been scheduled for March 31 to April 2.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said there are still two weeks before the summit but Washington needs “clarity” about China’s role regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He added that if progress is not made, the trip to Beijing could be delayed.
Meanwhile, Scott Bessent met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris to discuss preparations for the potential summit.
Chinese officials have not yet confirmed the exact date of the visit, typically announcing such meetings close to the time they occur.
If it goes ahead, the trip would mark the first visit by a U.S. president to China since Trump’s previous trip in 2017.
The meeting would also take place five months after the two leaders last met in Busan, where they agreed to a one-year truce in the trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump said roughly 90% of China’s imported oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz and argued that cooperation in keeping the route open would also benefit Beijing. He has called on several European and Asian countries, including China, to help ensure the passage remains open. About one-fifth of the world’s daily oil supply moves through the waterway.
However, some experts say China’s dependence on the strait may be lower than Trump suggests. Over the past two decades, Beijing has diversified its energy sources and built large strategic reserves.
Estimates indicate China holds roughly 1.2 billion barrels of crude oil in domestic storage, enough to cover the country’s needs for three to four months.
Some analysts also doubt China would deploy naval forces to reopen the waterway. Edward Fishman described Trump’s remarks as “a form of political bluff.”