Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States has requested a delay for the planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, initially scheduled to occur from March 31 to April 2. This comes as the U.S. is engaged in a military campaign against Iran.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump emphasized the need to remain in the country due to the ongoing military operations. During a press availability at the White House, he stated, "I'd love to, but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here. So we've requested that we delay it a month or so." The President expressed his anticipation to meet with the Chinese leader, citing a strong bilateral relationship but highlighting the current priority due to the conflict.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Trump suggested the summit's delay was necessary while urging China to assist in countering Iran's efforts to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a significant oil shipping lane, accounting for about 20% of the global oil supply. Trump also called on South Korea, Japan, and other nations dependent on the strait for their energy needs to contribute naval support to ensure the passage remains open.