President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed he would make his scheduled trip to China despite the United States military operation in Iran.
At a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office, the President told reporters that he would travel in about “five or six weeks.”
Trump hinted his team was working with China on the visit. “They were fine with it,” he said. “I look forward to seeing President Xi. He looks forward to seeing me, I think.”
At a briefing on Tuesday, Beijing dismissed speculation that the leaders might postpone their meeting over Trump’s purported demand that China assist with breaking Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Foreign Ministry noted Washington’s rebuttal of the “misguided” news. “China and the U.S. remain in communication on President Trump’s visit to China, including the dates,” said spokesperson Lin Jian.
The U.S. is in talks with allies as it coordinates a naval effort to gain control of the Strait, while Israel is reportedly expanding its intelligence operations in the global shipping route.
But Iran remains defiant, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf vowing continued resistance. “The Strait of Hormuz situation won’t return to its pre-war status,” he wrote on X.
On Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned that safe passage through the Strait is largely impossible for the time being.
The top diplomat said if the American armed forces are not able to secure it militarily, then European forces will most likely not be able to do so.
“We will need agreements with the Gulf states and to some extent also with Iran. That will make passage possible again,” Wadephul noted at a press conference.
