U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to postpone his highly anticipated summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping unless Beijing assists in securing the Strait of Hormuz. This comes amid the ongoing war involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which has disrupted oil supplies and heightened tensions between the world's two largest economies.
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In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump underscored China's heavy reliance on Middle Eastern oil, renewing his demand for Beijing to contribute to reopening the vital maritime passage. A day earlier, the Republican leader called on China to join an international effort to deploy vessels to the strait, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes.
"It is only natural that those who benefit from the strait contribute to ensuring that nothing bad happens there," Trump said in the interview published Sunday. He added that his visit to Beijing, scheduled for the end of this month, might be "too late," signaling his increasing urgency to counter Iran's control over the waterway.
Diplomatic Pressure and Economic Fallout
U.S. and Chinese trade officials are currently meeting in Paris to prepare for the potential summit, with talks set to resume on Monday. Meanwhile, the Trump administration says it is coordinating with allies like Britain, South Korea, and Japan to secure the strait, though most nations remain cautious about deploying forces into an active war zone.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the U.S. has consulted "about seven countries" regarding military support. When asked specifically about China, he remarked, "China is an interesting case," noting their dependence on Gulf oil. "I said to them: Would you like to join? We’ll see. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t."
China's Stance: Caution and Mediation
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized that "leader diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic role in China-U.S. relations." However, Chinese experts remain skeptical. Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, noted, "This is his war, not ours... Why would we send ships there? To join the U.S. and its allies in fighting Iran? I don't think that is a wise decision for China."
Analysts suggest China might prefer diplomatic mediation over military involvement, potentially urging Iran to keep the strait open—but only under conditions that the U.S. and Israel must also meet.
Economic Stakes
The war has caused oil prices to surge, impacting U.S. fuel costs as mid-term elections approach. Simultaneously, China faces its own economic pressures, with 2026 growth forecasts at their slowest pace since 1991. The ambiguity surrounding the summit reflects the profound shifts in the global political landscape following two weeks of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
