Trump signals possible delay of China trip amid pressure on Beijing over Hormuz

2026-03-16 00:19:09 ET

In an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump said he expected China to help unblock the strait before he travels to Beijing for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which had been scheduled for March 31 to April 2.

Trump added that the two weeks to the meeting were a “long time” and that Washington wanted clarity before then. “We may delay,” Trump told the FT, without elaborating on timing.

The remarks came as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met his Chinese counterpart, He Lifeng in Paris for talks about the planned summit. Beijing has yet to confirm the dates and typically announces such plans closer to their scheduled start.

Trump said Sunday aboard Air Force One that China sourced about 90% of its oil through the strait, framing Beijing’s cooperation on Hormuz as a matter of self-interest. He has suggested other countries could help escort tankers through the waterway, naming nations including China, France, Japan, and South Korea.

Iran effectively shut the strait after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks against it more than two weeks ago. About a fifth of global oil ?and liquefied natural gas normally ?passes through the Strait of ?Hormuz , a narrow passage of water between Iran and Oman.

Brent crude ( CO1:COM ) was up 1.3% at $ 104.47 a barrel in Asian trade on Monday, and U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate ( CL1:COM ) also advanced, trading around $99.31.

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