US President Donald Trump will visit Beijing in mid-May for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but the planned visit will be postponed for several weeks as the war with Iran drags on.
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt confirmed Wednesday that President Trump’s trip will take place on May 14 and 15, instead of March 31 to April 2 as originally scheduled.
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He added that President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump plan to host Xi when they visit Washington, D.C., later this year.
At a news conference Wednesday, Levitt faced questions about whether the new trip dates symbolized the Iran war coming to an end.
One reporter asked, “Did the two leaders talk about ending the war? Was that a precondition for holding this rescheduled meeting?”
Mr. Levitt denied such a precondition.
“President Xi understood that it is very important for the president to be here now during this combat operation,” she said. “He obviously understood and accepted the request for a postponement. That’s why a new date has been decided.”
Fighting continues in Iran as the war approaches a month, despite repeated statements from the White House that victory is near.
Iran’s continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for gasoline transportation, has sent shockwaves through the world economy, including China. Analysis firm Kpler found that by 2025, more than 80% of Iranian oil shipments will be purchased by the Chinese government, amounting to about 1.38 million barrels per day.
China wants an end to the war. Meanwhile, President Trump has asked China to cooperate in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but Beijing has so far refused to participate.
“The recent tense situation in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters has affected international goods and energy trade routes and disrupted peace and stability within and outside the region,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said last week.
“China once again calls on the parties to this agreement to immediately halt military operations.”
At a press conference on Wednesday, the Trump administration once again signaled that the joint operation against Iran is proceeding as planned.
Levitt added that the United States is “quickly achieving the goals of Operation Epic Fury.”
But reporters pressed Levitt to specify a deadline for ending combat operations. “Should we expect the war to diminish and end by the time of your visit on May 15th or 14th?”
“We always estimate about four to six weeks, so do the math on that,” Leavitt replied.
President Trump and his allies have often issued conflicting statements about the dates and objectives of the war, which began on February 28 when the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
This war is largely unpopular in the United States. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that 59% of respondents said President Trump’s decision to use military force against Iran was the wrong choice, while 38% said it was the right choice.
The survey also found that respondents believe the war is going poorly by a nearly two-to-one margin, with 54% believing the war will last at least another six months, despite claims of rapid progress by the White House.
Levitt did not provide details about future talks between Trump and Xi. However, continued trade tensions between the two superpowers are likely to become a hot topic.
Since his first term as president, President Trump has imposed steep tariffs on China in an effort to shore up U.S. industry and correct what he calls a trade imbalance.
However, following the US Supreme Court’s ruling in February, President Trump’s ability to impose tariffs across the board has been called into question.
All tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were deemed invalid, and the Trump administration subsequently imposed a flat 10% tariff starting March 1 under another authority.
President Trump is expected to discuss the Iran war during his visit to Beijing. China has made limited criticism of the U.S. war against Iran, which analysts say could benefit China by straining U.S. military resources and reducing China’s capabilities in Asia.
Trump visited China in 2017 during his first term in office, making it the latest visit by a US president. Trump and Xi also spoke briefly during the ASEAN summit in South Korea in October.
