China: we’re still talking to US about Trump trip after threat to delay over Iran crisis

2026.03.16 10:50 Donald Trump has called on other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Reuters China said on Monday it was still talking to the United States about President Donald Trump’s planned visit later this month following his threat to delay the trip. Trump has been trying to pressure countries that rely heavily on oil from the Gulf to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that Iran has effectively closed in retaliation for the US and Israeli attacks. On Sunday, he told the Financial Times “it’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there”. He also said he would prefer to know Beijing’s position before he travels there, adding “we may delay”. When asked about Trump’s comments, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the two countries were “in communication” over the visit and described head-of-state diplomacy as playing an “irreplaceable role” in their relationship. China has yet to make a formal announcement about the trip but the White House has said it will run from March 31 to April 2. Lin did not say whether China had received an invitation to send warships to help open up the strait or whether it would do so. Instead, he focused on the impact of the crisis on the global flow of goods and energy, as well as on global peace and stability. In a social media post on Saturday, Trump urged China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others to “send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated”. “Again, China calls on all sides to immediately stop military operations, avoid the further escalation of tension and prevent the regional turbulence from [having] a larger impact on global economic growth,” Lin said. “We are in communication on the situation with all sides and stay committed to a de-escalation of the current situation.” China, which considers Iran a strateg

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