Trump to Meet Xi in Beijing Amid Tensions Over Iran Conflict and Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump is scheduled to depart for Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping, aiming to address the ongoing conflict with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has been urging China, Iran's largest oil purchaser, to leverage its influence to reopen the strait, a critical passage through which about 20% of the world's crude oil flows.

Despite these efforts, the White House has set low expectations for significant changes in China's stance. The administration is keen to prevent disagreements over Iran from overshadowing discussions on other bilateral issues, including trade and cooperation to curb exports of fentanyl precursors. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer emphasized, "We don't want this to be something that derails the broader relationship or the agreements that might come out of our meeting in Beijing."

In recent days, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on several entities, including three China-based firms, for providing sensitive satellite imagery that allegedly enabled Iranian military strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East. In response, Beijing has enacted a blocking statute prohibiting Chinese entities from recognizing or complying with these sanctions, calling them "illegal unilateral pressure."

Ahead of the summit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Beijing, defending Iran's right to develop civilian nuclear energy. President Xi has also emphasized the importance of safeguarding international rule of law, stating it "must not be selectively applied or disregarded."

Both leaders appear intent on ensuring that differences over the Iran conflict do not derail broader U.S.-China relations. President Trump downplayed these differences, noting that President Xi "would like to see it get done," referring to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

China, heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil, is cautious about deepening its involvement in the conflict. Analysts suggest that Beijing aims to maintain stability without compromising its strategic interests. Craig Singleton, senior director for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' China program, noted, "He wants the summit to validate China's superpower status, preserve the tariff predictability, and to reaffirm that Washington has to deal with Beijing on Beijing's terms."

The summit is viewed as a high-stakes diplomatic balancing act for both nations, with both leaders eager to avoid a return to the tariff wars that previously strained their relationship.