Focus on Iran, Trump Plans to Delay His Visit to China

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters. (Wikimedia Commons/Official White House/Daniel Torok)

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump said on Monday he wanted to delay his highly anticipated visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for at least a month, choosing to focus on the war with Iran in the Middle East.

"I would love to (go to China), but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here," President Trump said of the trip, which was originally planned for March 31 to April 2, Kyodo News reported (17/3).

"So we've asked that we delay it about a month," Trump continued.

Referring to President Xi, he also said, "I hope to meet him. We have a very good relationship."

Hours earlier, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the US President's trip to China could be rescheduled, citing the need to concentrate on the US-Israeli war with Iran.

"As commander in chief, my top priority right now is ensuring the continued success of this operation, Epic Fury. So, we will continue to let you know about the date as soon as possible," Leavitt explained, referring to the military campaign against Iran launched by both countries on February 28.

Separately, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after meeting with Chinese economic officials in Paris said President Trump wanted to stay in Washington "to coordinate the war effort."

"Traveling abroad at this time may not be the optimal choice," he explained.

Their statements came a day after President Trump said in an interview with the Financial Times that he could postpone his meeting with President Xi if China did not respond to his request to help open the Strait of Hormuz blockade in the coming days.

With Iran essentially closing the strait, the Republican politician has stepped up pressure on countries heavily reliant on oil from the Middle East, including Japan and South Korea, to send warships to secure the vital shipping corridor.

At the White House meeting, President Trump reiterated his call for support to help reopen the strait - through which passes about 20 percent of the world's oil supplies - and claimed "many countries have told me they are on their way. Some are very enthusiastic, and some are not."

Although he stressed the level of enthusiasm before the war ended was important to him, President Trump did not mention which countries were enthusiastic and which were not.