China11 May, 20262 min read
U.S. War Against Iran Threatens Trump-Xi Summit in Beijing Over Strait of Hormuz Blockade
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Beijing summit between Trump and Xi scheduled soon amid Iran-war tensions. Iran war dominates talks, shaping regional dynamics and U.S.-China relations.
Beijing summit amid Iran
President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday and Friday, with the trip postponed because of the war from early April. The Hill reports that the U.S. war against Iran threatens to be a “dark cloud” over the summit, while the Strait of Hormuz blockade has prevented vessels from moving and entangled 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.
The Hill says Trump and Xi most recently met face-to-face in Busan, South Korea, in October, and that the summit is expected to include discussion of Beijing’s focus on continued access to U.S. technology and Trump’s pursuit of China’s purchase of American products, such as Boeing jets. The Hill also quotes Alison Szalwinski, vice president at the Asia Group, saying, “The priority at this point is having the summit take place, having the two of them meet face-to-face,” and ensuring “U.S.-China relations are on stable footing.”
Sanctions and trade friction
Politico reports that the State Department sanctioned three Chinese companies it accused of aiding Iran in its war against the U.S., naming Meentropy Technology (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, The Earth Eye and Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd.
Politico says the agency accused the firms of “providing satellite imagery that enables Iran’s military strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East,” and warned, “The targeting of U.S. service members and partners will not go unanswered.”
The Hill adds that U.S. officials have alternated between appealing to China’s self-interest and more blunt criticism, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent telling Fox News that “Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China has been buying 90 percent of their energy.”
Firstpost frames the same summit as clouded by “Iran tensions, trade mistrust and China’s growing leverage,” and says analysts believe Beijing is unlikely to offer major concessions as Trump may enter a weaker political position ahead of US midterm elections.
Diplomatic leverage and next steps
The Hill reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Thursday, and that China’s top diplomat emphasized Beijing’s support for diplomatic talks over the resumption of military conflict.
The Hill quotes China’s Foreign Ministry readout saying, “China believes that a comprehensive ceasefire is of utmost urgency, that resuming hostilities is even less acceptable, and that adhering to negotiations is particularly important,” and describes Szalwinski calling it “classic Chinese restraint.”
The Hill says China’s role in America’s fentanyl crisis, artificial intelligence and China’s claim to Taiwan are among the other major issues of the summit, while it also notes Xi has so far balked at requests to join efforts to reopen the strait.
TradingView reports that Chinese and American delegations met in Paris on Sunday for trade talks at the OECD headquarters, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer meeting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to discuss trade issues, and says the talks were to last two days.