Why Trump Is Visiting China Despite the Iran War
Photo9: Reuters
As the United States remains heavily involved in the Iran conflict, President Donald Trump’s visit to China is unfolding under far more complicated circumstances than he had originally anticipated. The key question now is whether Trump can still secure the diplomatic and political wins he hoped the trip would deliver.
Trump had postponed the visit once before, in March, to prevent the Iran crisis from overshadowing the trip. At the time, he expressed confidence that the war would be resolved within weeks. Months later, however, a peace agreement remains elusive, and Trump now says the ceasefire with Iran is “on life support.”
Responding to questions about why Trump chose to proceed with the visit despite the ongoing conflict, a senior US official said there was no reason for the president to halt his broader responsibilities. The official also pointed out that the conflict had been even more “active” when the trip was initially delayed.
Although Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could announce trade agreements that the US president may frame as political victories back home, the Iran issue is still expected to dominate much of the discussion.
The United States continues to maintain restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz, a move with significant consequences for China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil. Just days before the summit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beijing, highlighting the close relationship between the two countries.
Observers expect Trump to urge Xi to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and move toward a peace agreement.
“I expect the president to apply pressure,” the senior US official said, while also referring to recent sanctions imposed on individuals and entities accused of helping Iran acquire weapons and raw materials.
Some US officials, however, are concerned that Trump is entering talks in which Xi may hold the strategic upper hand. They fear the Chinese leader could use that advantage to strengthen Beijing’s position on Taiwan, one of China’s most sensitive geopolitical priorities.
Trump appeared to acknowledge that possibility on Monday, telling reporters, “He’ll probably bring up Taiwan more than I will.”
Source: CNN (adaptive)