Chinese officials said they are in dialogue with U.S. counterparts about President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China, responding to comments from Trump that he may delay the trip while pressing Beijing for its stance on security in the Strait of Hormuz.
In remarks published by the Financial Times, Trump argued that countries benefiting from shipping through the Strait should contribute to securing passage. "I think China should help too because China gets 90% of its oil from the Straits," he told the newspaper, and added that he would prefer to know Beijing’s position prior to the planned visit. "We may delay," he said, referring to the trip.
The White House had previously announced that Trump would travel to China from March 31 to April 2 for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. When asked about Trump’s comments during a routine press briefing, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, emphasized the unique role of high-level diplomacy. "Head of state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance to China-U.S. relations," Lin said, and noted that both sides are in communication about the visit.
Beijing also addressed the status of sanctions on Marco Rubio, who is expected to accompany Trump on the trip. Rubio was sanctioned by China in 2020 over comments he made about Hong Kong and Xinjiang when he was a U.S. senator. Asked whether those sanctions would affect Rubio’s ability to travel to China, Lin said the measures were targeted at "Mr. Rubio’s words and deeds concerning China during his tenure in the United States Senate." The comment indicated that Beijing would allow Rubio to enter despite the prior sanctions.
Separately, Chinese and U.S. officials are meeting in Paris this week. According to Chinese statements, talks in Paris include potential areas of agreement such as agriculture, critical minerals and managed trade. These are items that could be raised by Trump and Xi during their summit in Beijing should the visit proceed as scheduled.
The situation remains fluid: the U.S. president publicly linked the timing of the state visit to clarity on China’s position regarding security in a key oil shipping lane, while Chinese officials reiterated the importance of state-level diplomacy and confirmed ongoing communication. Meanwhile, preparatory meetings in Paris are exploring specific economic and trade topics that could inform discussions at the leaders’ summit.