China rejects US request over the Strait of Hormuz as Trump’s trip to Beijing is postponed and the war with Iran worsens

WASHINGTON (AP) — China will not help the United States reopen the Strait of Hormuz at the request of President Donald Trump, but it may welcome a delay in Trump’s upcoming trip to Beijing as the United States risks entanglement in the Middle East, analysts say.

Read more: Trump has veered from diplomacy to war in Iran. He is now asking for help from China and others

The latest developments are unfolding as Trump’s war against Iran, in its third week, faces mounting pressure as oil stops moving through the strait and US allies refuse to intervene to secure the strait. That has raised concerns that China, the United States’ biggest geopolitical rival, could benefit from a war that some say is ill-conceived.

“President Trump’s request to postpone his long-awaited summit with President Xi Jinping underscores the extent to which he underestimates the ramifications of Operation Epic Fury,” said Ali Wein, senior research and advocacy adviser for US-China relations at the International Crisis Group. “The American show of force meant to intimidate Beijing has instead broken the illusion of US omnipotence: Unable to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on its own, Washington now needs its main strategic rival to help it manage a crisis of its own making.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not answer when asked whether it would help reopen the Strait, but reiterated its call “for the parties to immediately stop military operations, avoid further escalation of the tense situation, and prevent regional unrest from further affecting the global economy.”

He watches: Middle East experts discuss Trump’s pressure on NATO to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Beijing, which has never formally confirmed Trump’s state visit, which was scheduled for March 31, signaled its willingness to work with the United States to reschedule the visit by indicating that the two sides “remain in contact.” It even helped clarify that the postponement had nothing to do with Trump’s request for China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said on Tuesday that the Chinese were “fine” about the delay, and claimed that “the working relationship with China is very good.”

“I think Iran’s demand will now be less urgent for China to fulfill,” said Sun Yun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center. Meanwhile, Chinese diplomats have been engaging with Middle Eastern countries, pledging to play a constructive role in easing tensions and restoring peace.

He watches: Port of Los Angeles chief talks about how the Iran war will impact global trade

On Sunday, Beijing, through the Red Cross and Red Crescent, delivered to Iran an emergency humanitarian aid package worth $200,000, intended for the families of children and teachers killed in the bombing of the Shajarat Taiba Primary School building in Minab, Iran. The Chinese ambassador to Iran condemned the attack on the school.

The state visit was delayed

Brett Vetterly, managing director in the China practice at The Asia Group, a Washington-based consulting firm, said delaying the state visit is welcomed by both the Trump administration and China.

He watches: The White House says the timing of Trump-Xi talks could change

“I think the political environment is difficult for the United States to have the commander in chief travel abroad while conducting military operations,” Vetterly said. “On the Chinese side, there is no harm in playing around for a little more time, in order to better understand exactly what President Trump might want.”

Vetterli said recent trade talks in Paris between the two governments appeared to have produced little agreement and indicated that difficulties remained in addressing structural differences in trade, technology and economic security. “Ultimately, both sides really need some time to determine the scope of outcomes that can be achieved,” he added.

The American business community also expressed concern that preparations for the summit may not have been sufficient to reach substantive agreements.

Stay away from Asia

The transfer of military assets from the Indo-Pacific region to the Middle East, including a large portion of Marines deployed there as part of a rapid reaction unit and an anti-missile defense system, has raised concerns that it could distract the United States from its stated priority of refocusing on Asia.

Read more: Iran war pushes Asian countries to sort energy while conserving energy

“The longer this war drags on, and the more forces are moved out of Asia, the more Asian allies will worry about U.S. distraction and resource constraints,” said Zach Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies U.S. strategy in Asia.

He added that delaying the official visit could also mean delaying any arms sales to the self-governing island of Taiwan to deter attacks from Beijing. China has pledged to control Taiwan by force if necessary, but the United States is obligated under its own law to provide the island with sufficient equipment to defend itself. This issue remains the most thorny in US-China relations.

“I think China is happy to postpone the visit and reap the benefits while the United States gets involved again in the Middle East,” Cooper said.

He added that perhaps Beijing doesn’t need to do much: “I think most Chinese experts and officials think the United States is undermining itself, so they should just get out of the way.”