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| Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday |
BEIJING — Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held extensive talks on the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, Taiwan, and regional security during a major summit in Beijing, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaking after more than two hours of meetings between the two delegations, Rubio said both Washington and Beijing agreed they oppose the militarization of the Strait of Hormuz and any tolling system that could disrupt global shipping routes.
“The Chinese side said they are not in favor of militarizing the Strait of Hormuz, and they’re not in favor of a tolling system — and that’s our position,” Rubio told NBC News following the summit.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major flashpoint during the ongoing Iran conflict, with disruptions to oil and gas shipments triggering sharp increases in global energy prices and renewed fears of economic instability worldwide.
Despite speculation that Trump would seek Beijing’s assistance in pressuring Iran toward peace negotiations, Rubio insisted the United States was not requesting China’s help.
“We’re not asking for China’s help. We don’t need their help,” Rubio said.
Trump’s visit to China had reportedly been delayed by several weeks due to escalating tensions linked to the Iran war. China — a close economic partner of Iran — has repeatedly criticized U.S. and Israeli military strikes while calling for diplomacy and regional stability.
Rubio said Trump and Xi also discussed Taiwan and the case of Hong Kong pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai, who was sentenced earlier this year under China’s national security law.
The secretary of state’s own visit to Beijing was notable because he remains under Chinese sanctions imposed in 2020 over his criticism of China’s human rights policies. Chinese officials, however, allowed the trip to proceed, stating the sanctions related to Rubio’s previous role as a U.S. senator rather than his current diplomatic position.
According to Rubio, both leaders appeared to find common ground regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with China reiterating its opposition to Tehran developing nuclear weapons.
The summit marks another critical chapter in increasingly complex U.S.-China relations as both global powers navigate growing tensions over trade, Taiwan, Middle East instability, and energy security.