Washington, USA – Web Desk: China has declined President Donald Trump’s request to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating Iran conflict, analysts say, while his planned Beijing state visit faces delays.
The Iran war entered its third week as oil shipments through the strategic strait halted, and US allies have refused to secure the passage, raising concerns about global energy security. Experts suggest China may benefit strategically from the conflict, as Washington struggles to manage the crisis alone.
“President Trump’s request to delay his summit with President Xi Jinping highlights how significantly he underestimated the fallout from Operation Epic Fury,” said Ali Wyne, senior research adviser for US-China relations at the International Crisis Group.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not commit to reopening the strait but urged all parties to stop military operations, avoid further escalation, and prevent regional turmoil from impacting the global economy.
Originally scheduled for March 31, Trump’s Beijing visit has yet to be officially confirmed. Beijing indicated it remains open to rescheduling the summit and clarified that the delay is unrelated to the Strait of Hormuz request.
China has been actively engaging with Middle Eastern countries, pledging constructive efforts to ease tensions. It also delivered a $200,000 emergency aid package to Iran for families affected by the bombing of the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Iran.
Meanwhile, US military resources, including Marines and missile defense systems, are being shifted from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, prompting concerns that US attention on Asia is being diluted. Analysts warn that ongoing conflict may delay arms sales to Taiwan and undermine US commitments to regional security in Asia.
“The longer this war continues, the more it feeds Asian allies’ concerns about US distraction,” said Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
Experts note that China may be content with the delay, allowing the US to become entangled in Middle East operations while Beijing observes strategically.
