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China Urges Unimpeded Hormuz Passage Amid Trump's Tariff Threats

China has called for secure and unimpeded navigation through the critical Strait of Hormuz, directly responding to US President Donald Trump's threats. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stated that tariff wars have no winners when questioned about potential US tariffs over arms aid to Iran. The diplomatic exchange occurs as a planned Trump visit to Beijing for a summit with President Xi Jinping was delayed until mid-May. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to visit China for talks with his counterpart on bilateral and international issues.

Key Points: China Calls for Strait of Hormuz Access, Responds to Trump

  • China calls for free Hormuz passage
  • Rejects US tariff threats on Iran aid
  • Trump-Xi summit delayed to May
  • Russia's Lavrov to visit China
  • Beijing credits itself for Iran diplomacy
2 min read

China calls for unimpeded passage in Hormuz amid Trump's threat

China advocates for free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and rejects US tariff threats, as high-level diplomatic visits are scheduled.

"Safeguarding the security, stability, and unimpeded passage in the Strait of Hormuz serves the common interests of the international community. - Guo Jiakun"

Beijing, April 13

China on Sunday called for unobstructed navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as US President Donald Trump threatened of a total blockade.

"Safeguarding the security, stability, and unimpeded passage in the Strait of Hormuz serves the common interests of the international community," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday, as reported by Xinhua.

When asked about Trump's tariff threats if China is found supplying arms aid to Iran, Guo said that tariffs have no winners.

"China's position is very clear: tariff wars have no winners," he said, as cited by Global Times.

The threats come at a critical time as Trump is anticipated to visit Beijing in mid-May for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping. The diplomatic mission was initially planned for early April, but was delayed by the US President, who stated at the time that his presence was required in Washington "to oversee the Iran war."

Earlier on April 8, the Chinese government reaffirmed its commitment to regional stability following acknowledgements of its role in facilitating diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East, as reported by China Daily. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Beijing remains dedicated to fostering a peaceful resolution to ongoing tensions in the region.

The spokesperson's comments came as a direct response to international developments involving the United States and Iran. According to the report, Mao Ning addressed the media after US President Donald Trump credited Beijing with influencing the diplomatic shift, specifically noting that "China had helped bring Iran to the negotiating table."

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to visit China to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

In a post on X, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, "On April 14-15, FM Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to China & hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. They are expected to discuss a broad range of bilateral issues, along with pressing international & regional matters."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
China talks about stability but continues its own aggressive moves elsewhere. Their call for unimpeded passage is valid, but it rings a bit hollow. India must maintain strong ties with all sides and not get caught in this US-China-Iran triangle.
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Aditya G
Trump's "total blockade" threat is reckless. Tariffs hurt everyone, as the Chinese spokesperson said. For India, any conflict there means skyrocketing petrol prices. Hope our diplomats are working overtime on contingency plans.
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Sarah B
Interesting to see China positioning itself as a peacemaker in the Middle East. If they can genuinely help de-escalate, that's good for global trade. But the timing with Lavrov's visit suggests more about Russia-China coordination than pure peacekeeping.
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Nikhil C
As an Indian, my primary concern is the impact on our economy. A blockade would be a disaster. We need to diversify our energy sources faster and invest more in renewables. This geopolitical tension is a wake-up call.
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Kavya N
Respectfully, while China advocates for unimpeded passage here, its actions in the South China Sea tell a different story. Consistency in foreign policy matters. India should advocate for freedom of navigation universally, not just when it suits a major power.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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