BRIC Team reports: China needs the Strait of Hormuz to open for its own reasons – of oil and energy from Iran and so on. At the same time, they can use this as leverage regarding Taiwan.”Trump said before departing for China on Tuesday that he does not need Xi’s help on Iran, saying that the conflict is “very much under control”.However, with petrol prices in the US skyrocketing and fuelling inflation, diplomacy stalled, and Trump’s popularity plummeting, the war appears to be hampering the Republican president’s domestic and global standing.Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on China to intervene in the crisis.“The attacks from Iran have closed the strait.
So I would urge the Chinese to join us in supporting this international operation,” Bessent said.He also underscored that China is the top importer of Iranian oil, accusing Beijing of “funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism”, referring to Tehran.“Let’s see them step up with some diplomacy and get the Iranians to open the strait,” he said. China insisted that the aircraft was a weather balloon that drifted over the US. But since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump and his administration have put less emphasis on the great power competition.
Background
Advertisement Trump’s most recent National Security Strategy said the US aims to shift its focus to the Western Hemisphere, rather than the rivalry in the Asia Pacific region.Still, tariffs and trade remain a major irritant in the relationship.
Key facts
- China needs the Strait of Hormuz to open for its own reasons – of oil and energy from Iran and so on.
- China insisted that the aircraft was a weather balloon that drifted over the US.
- But since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump and his administration have put less emphasis on the great power competition.
