As President Donald Trump meets with his counterpart, Xi Jinping, a new item has been added to the long list of issues of mutual interest and potential disagreement between the United States and China: the war in Iran.
US officials have suggested that China should play a greater role in pushing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but analysts say Beijing will require concessions from the US, likely over Taiwan, if it were to aid in resolving the crisis.
And Iran is unlikely to be at the top of the agenda in the Trump-Xi meeting.
“The Iran issue is not really the central issue for either party in this summit,” said Christopher Heurlin, an associate professor of government and Asian studies at Bowdoin College.
Heurlin said that, although the meeting was delayed earlier this year due to the war, Taiwan will remain China’s top issue, while Trump will likely push Beijing to buy more US soya beans.
China is a major importer of Iranian and Middle East oil, so its economy could come under strain from the disruption caused by Tehran’s Hormuz blockade and the US naval siege on Iran.
Trump-Xi summit: China’s help in Iran may require US concessions
