Arabic version: ترامب يؤجل اجتماع شي مع تصاعد الصراع في إيران
According to Al Jazeera,
US President Donald Trump has confirmed he is delaying plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of the month, as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to consume most of Washington’s focus. “We are resetting the meeting,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “Because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here,” he said.
Trump was scheduled to visit Beijing from March 31 to April 2. He now plans to visit in “about five weeks” or towards the end of April. His last state visit to China was in 2017. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that the US and China “remain in communication” about Trump’s plans to visit. The two leaders were expected to discuss a range of issues, from trade tariffs and Chinese export controls on rare earth minerals and magnets, to the US relationship with Taiwan and Chinese fentanyl exports.
The backdrop of this diplomatic engagement is the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has now entered its third week and has resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global shipping. Trump has signaled that he is seeking China’s help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely blocked by Tehran since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran 19 days ago.
In previous statements, Trump had characterized the relationship with China in a more confrontational light, labeling Tehran and Beijing as part of the “Axis of Autocracy.” However, his tone has softened since his meeting with Xi in South Korea last year. “I look forward to seeing President Xi; he looks forward to seeing me, I think,” Trump said from the White House. “We have a very good relationship with China. It’s much different than it was in the past.”
Experts suggest that the ongoing conflict in Iran could complicate Trump’s position in future negotiations with Xi. Ali Wyne, a senior researcher at the International Crisis Group, mentioned that while the US campaign against Iran was expected to bolster Trump’s negotiating leverage, it has instead created significant challenges, especially concerning oil supply disruptions and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz.
