US Treasury Secretary clarifies that any delay to the Trump-Xi summit would be due to logistics and the war effort, not a demand for China to police the Strait of Hormuz.
WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has clarified that any potential delay to a planned summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping would not be contingent on Beijing’s assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to broadcaster CNBC from Paris, where he held what he described as “very good” economic meetings with Chinese officials, Bessent sought to correct what he called a “false narrative” surrounding the summit’s scheduling.
“We will see whether the visit takes place as scheduled, but what I do want to parse — and there’s a false narrative out there — that if the meetings are delayed, it wouldn’t be delayed because the president’s demanded that China police the Strait of Hormuz,” Bessent said.
He stated that if the meeting were rescheduled, it would be solely due to logistical concerns and the president’s desire to remain in Washington to coordinate the ongoing military conflict with Iran.
“The president wants to remain in DC to coordinate the war effort, and traveling abroad at a time like this may not be optimal,” Bessent added.
His comments follow an interview published in the Financial Times where President Trump suggested his planned summit with Xi could be delayed as he seeks help in reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The vital oil trade route has been effectively blocked as a result of the US-Israeli war against Iran.
