Trump asks China to help secure the Strait of Hormuz during oil supply shortages
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Mar 16, 2026, 22:06 IST
Trump asks China to help secure the Strait of Hormuz during oil supply shortages
Now under pressure, former U.S. leader Donald Trump urges Beijing to assist in stabilising the Strait of Hormuz, following Iran's closure of the vital passage that sparked a worldwide oil disruption. Before an expected meeting in China’s capital with President Xi, such appeals face doubt; experts suggest limited motivation exists on the part of Chinese leadership.
TL;DR
Should tensions rise near Hormuz, Beijing may hold back support. Oil flows slowly, yet reserves stand ready on Chinese soil. Relations with Tehran remain firm, limiting room to shift stance. Pressure comes from Washington, though the response stays muted. Stability in supply chains rests partly on choices made far inland. Moves now depend less on appeals than long-held agreements.
A message from Donald Trump reaches Beijing, asking for China’s hand in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for much of the planet’s oil flow. Lately, Iranian actions have tightened control over the passage, slowing about twenty per cent of worldwide shipments. This appeal surfaces shortly ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital. Talks will likely stretch beyond trade, touching on deeper power shifts shaping today’s global landscape.
One sudden shift by Iran, blocking tankers from moving through the strait, and global oil costs surged overnight. That stretch of water, wedged between Iran and Oman, suddenly found itself at the centre of supply worries. Roughly a fifth of all oil shipped by sea passes through here, experts say. Its importance in worldwide energy flow is hard to ignore. Tension climbed fast after the restriction took effect.
China gains a lot from oil moving through those waters, Trump told the Financial Times in a weekend interview. The route matters to Beijing, he pointed out. A share of responsibility makes sense, given how much they rely on it. His comments came in remarks released Sunday. Keeping ships safe isn’t only up to others, in his view.
“It is only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said in the interview, adding that China’s willingness to cooperate could influence whether his upcoming diplomatic visit proceeds as planned.
Now comes a moment of strain between America and those it stands with, as friction with Iran sharpens. Not long after missiles struck key energy sites linked to Tehran, warnings emerged that these actions may stretch on, perhaps longer than expected. Officials from both Washington and Jerusalem voice resolve, though voices at home grow louder in dissent. People feel the pinch now, each time they fill a tank or pay a bill, fuel costs climbing without pause.
Still, experts suggest Beijing might not see much reason to back Washington’s appeal. In recent years, China boosted its energy safety by expanding oil stockpiles and spreading out where it gets crude while also putting major funds into green power like wind farms, solar panels, and battery-driven transport. That mix has made it less exposed when world oil flows hit snags unexpectedly.
With strategic security on their side, space for movement exists, noted Bert Hofman, a professor at the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute. Waiting, he indicated, remains an option Beijing can choose instead of reacting fast to American pressure.
One element affecting Beijing's stance lies in its ties with Tehran. Not merely an observer, China stands as a leading economic partner for Iran, also ranking among the largest buyers of its petroleum. A CNN publication noted that Iranian authorities might permit specific tankers to move through the strait, on condition the crude exchanges occur in yuan instead of dollar transactions.
Mixed responses emerged across China regarding the crisis. While certain official news channels called for coordination between Beijing and Washington amid global financial instability, different voices questioned military involvement. Deployment of naval units to the area drew scepticism, seen by some as alignment with a confrontation led by the U.S. Caution surfaced around entanglement in external disputes under such circumstances.
Early on Monday, at a press gathering, Lin Jian spoke about matters involving China's position. The possibility of support for stabilising the water passage was not confirmed by him. Instead, focus shifted toward communication through official channels between nations. This comes just before an upcoming trip scheduled for Trump. Talks centred on maintaining dialogue rather than commitments.
“Head of state diplomacy plays an indispensable role in providing strategic guidance to China-U.S. relations,” Lin said, adding that both sides remain in communication regarding the potential summit.
A pause unfolds while representatives from China and the United States pursue discussions in Paris, directed at farm goods along with essential raw materials, a Reuters report indicates. Underlying these exchanges lies an intent to steady commercial friction between the planet's leading economic powers.
Few experts expect Beijing to send troops into the Gulf, even with urging from U.S. officials. Instead, past moves hint at quieter talks behind closed doors, like when Chinese diplomats helped patch up relations between Tehran and Riyadh in 2023. Quiet steps over loud actions seem to be the pattern so far.
Still, Beijing seems to prefer calm, despite holding back from stepping into the Hormuz tensions headfirst. What matters most, analysts note, is a steady neighbourhood, even when staying on the sidelines.
Should tensions rise near Hormuz, Beijing may hold back support. Oil flows slowly, yet reserves stand ready on Chinese soil. Relations with Tehran remain firm, limiting room to shift stance. Pressure comes from Washington, though the response stays muted. Stability in supply chains rests partly on choices made far inland. Moves now depend less on appeals than long-held agreements.
A message from Donald Trump reaches Beijing, asking for China’s hand in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for much of the planet’s oil flow. Lately, Iranian actions have tightened control over the passage, slowing about twenty per cent of worldwide shipments. This appeal surfaces shortly ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital. Talks will likely stretch beyond trade, touching on deeper power shifts shaping today’s global landscape.
One sudden shift by Iran, blocking tankers from moving through the strait, and global oil costs surged overnight. That stretch of water, wedged between Iran and Oman, suddenly found itself at the centre of supply worries. Roughly a fifth of all oil shipped by sea passes through here, experts say. Its importance in worldwide energy flow is hard to ignore. Tension climbed fast after the restriction took effect.
China gains a lot from oil moving through those waters, Trump told the Financial Times in a weekend interview. The route matters to Beijing, he pointed out. A share of responsibility makes sense, given how much they rely on it. His comments came in remarks released Sunday. Keeping ships safe isn’t only up to others, in his view.
“It is only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said in the interview, adding that China’s willingness to cooperate could influence whether his upcoming diplomatic visit proceeds as planned.
Now comes a moment of strain between America and those it stands with, as friction with Iran sharpens. Not long after missiles struck key energy sites linked to Tehran, warnings emerged that these actions may stretch on, perhaps longer than expected. Officials from both Washington and Jerusalem voice resolve, though voices at home grow louder in dissent. People feel the pinch now, each time they fill a tank or pay a bill, fuel costs climbing without pause.
Still, experts suggest Beijing might not see much reason to back Washington’s appeal. In recent years, China boosted its energy safety by expanding oil stockpiles and spreading out where it gets crude while also putting major funds into green power like wind farms, solar panels, and battery-driven transport. That mix has made it less exposed when world oil flows hit snags unexpectedly.
With strategic security on their side, space for movement exists, noted Bert Hofman, a professor at the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute. Waiting, he indicated, remains an option Beijing can choose instead of reacting fast to American pressure.
One element affecting Beijing's stance lies in its ties with Tehran. Not merely an observer, China stands as a leading economic partner for Iran, also ranking among the largest buyers of its petroleum. A CNN publication noted that Iranian authorities might permit specific tankers to move through the strait, on condition the crude exchanges occur in yuan instead of dollar transactions.
Mixed responses emerged across China regarding the crisis. While certain official news channels called for coordination between Beijing and Washington amid global financial instability, different voices questioned military involvement. Deployment of naval units to the area drew scepticism, seen by some as alignment with a confrontation led by the U.S. Caution surfaced around entanglement in external disputes under such circumstances.
Early on Monday, at a press gathering, Lin Jian spoke about matters involving China's position. The possibility of support for stabilising the water passage was not confirmed by him. Instead, focus shifted toward communication through official channels between nations. This comes just before an upcoming trip scheduled for Trump. Talks centred on maintaining dialogue rather than commitments.
“Head of state diplomacy plays an indispensable role in providing strategic guidance to China-U.S. relations,” Lin said, adding that both sides remain in communication regarding the potential summit.
A pause unfolds while representatives from China and the United States pursue discussions in Paris, directed at farm goods along with essential raw materials, a Reuters report indicates. Underlying these exchanges lies an intent to steady commercial friction between the planet's leading economic powers.
Few experts expect Beijing to send troops into the Gulf, even with urging from U.S. officials. Instead, past moves hint at quieter talks behind closed doors, like when Chinese diplomats helped patch up relations between Tehran and Riyadh in 2023. Quiet steps over loud actions seem to be the pattern so far.
Still, Beijing seems to prefer calm, despite holding back from stepping into the Hormuz tensions headfirst. What matters most, analysts note, is a steady neighbourhood, even when staying on the sidelines.