Ahead of Trump-Xi summit, Rubio urges China to help open Strait of Hormuz
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- White House officials are urging China to leverage its influence over Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz ahead of President Trump and Xi Jinping's summit in Beijing, highlighting the strategic importance of the waterway for global trade and China's economy.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Iran's blockade of the strait isolates Tehran globally and negatively impacts China, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern energy imports transported through the strait.
- The U.S. is also pressing China not to veto U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning Iran's actions in the strait, despite China and Russia previously blocking such measures citing bias against Iran.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials have called on China to support international efforts to reopen the strait, while Trump acknowledged China's critical oil dependence on the region but noted China has not directly challenged U.S. policies.
- Taiwan is expected to be a key topic at the Trump-Xi summit, with China seeking U.S. restraint on arms sales to Taiwan, which the U.S. has increased despite Chinese objections, raising concerns about regional stability.
