US President Donald Trump’s proposed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is not at risk but could be delayed as the US administration remains focused on the Iran war, the White House says.
Trump is due to travel to China from March 31 to April 2 for a highly anticipated meeting between the government leaders of the world’s two biggest economies.
“I don’t think the meeting is in jeopardy but it’s quite possible the meeting could be delayed,” spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.
In an interview on Sunday with the Financial Times, Trump said China’s reliance on oil from the Middle East means it ought to help with a new coalition he is trying to put together to get oil tanker traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s threats have throttled global flows of oil.
Trump said “we’d like to know” before the trip whether China will help.
“We may delay,” he said in the interview.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Leavitt said should the trip be delayed, the White House would announce new dates soon.
“The president’s utmost responsibility right now as commander-in-chief is to ensure the continued success of Operation Epic Fury, as he’s doing 24/7 here at the White House and here at home. So we’ll look forward to announcing those dates very soon,” she said.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday any delay to Trump’s month-end trip to Beijing would not be because of disagreements over the Iran war or efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“If the meeting for some reason was rescheduled, it would be rescheduled because of logistics,” the secretary said on CNBC.
“The president wants to remain in DC to co-ordinate the war, and travelling abroad at a time like this may not be optimal”.
with AP
Australian Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national newswire and has been delivering accurate, reliable and fast news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We keep Australia informed.
