Trump presses China to cooperate on Hormuz… “Summit could be postponed” [Roundup]

“China gets 90% of its oil through Hormuz… it should help”

Warns NATO, too: “Bad impact in the future”

U.S. President Donald Trump is repeatedly pressuring China to cooperate in securing safety in the Strait of Hormuz. He is also raising the pressure by even mentioning the possibility of postponing the U.S.-China summit slated for late this month or early next month.

In a phone interview with the UK’s Financial Times (FT) on the 15th (local time), Trump said, “China gets 90% of its oil through this strait (the Strait of Hormuz), so it has to help,” arguing that China should take part in the operation to escort vessels transiting the strait.

As Iran has continued attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz despite U.S. demands for capitulation, Trump is signaling a strong intention to bring in China—which has maintained friendly ties with Iran—to ease the choke point in maritime shipping in the region.

He then said of the U.S.-China summit about two weeks away, “Two weeks is a long time,” adding, “It could be postponed,” indicating that if China does not respond on joining the Hormuz escort mission before the summit, the schedule could slip.

The U.S. and China are currently coordinating the summit agenda through high-level communications ahead of the leaders’ meeting. On the day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris. Neither side disclosed details of the talks, but Reuters reported that they discussed potential areas of agreement that could be considered at the summit, including agriculture, critical minerals, and trade management.

With consultations still not finalized, and with Trump simultaneously signaling demands for China’s cooperation on Hormuz security and the possibility of delaying the summit, it is being raised that the U.S. side may bring up the issue in further negotiations.

On the day, Trump also offered additional explanation of his post the previous day on social media, in which he mentioned five countries—South Korea, China, Japan, the UK and France—effectively calling for them to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy shipments.

He said, “Those who benefit from the Strait of Hormuz should help ensure nothing bad happens there,” adding, “If there is no response or the reaction is negative, it will have a very bad impact on NATO’s future.”

Park Su-rim, Hankyung.com reporter paksr365@hankyung.com