Trump seeks to delay China visit amid escalating Iran conflict

US President Donald Trump said on Monday, March 16, that he has requested a roughly one-month postponement of his upcoming trip to China, originally scheduled for March 31-April 2, citing the ongoing conflict in Iran as the reason.

The move highlights how the war in the Middle East is affecting Trump’s foreign policy plans and could further complicate already delicate relations between Washington and Beijing. The Iran crisis now joins trade disputes and tensions over Taiwan as major points of friction between the two largest global economies.

Iran has threatened to target ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz following joint US-Israeli military strikes, even as Iranian vessels continue to transit the waterway at near-normal levels. Trump has called on several countries, including China, to help ensure safe passage for commercial ships, but his appeals have largely gone unanswered. China, the world’s largest oil importer, bringing in roughly 12 million barrels per day in the first months of 2026, has yet to publicly respond.

Beijing has not confirmed dates for Trump’s visit, and it is standard practice for Chinese authorities to keep President Xi Jinping’s schedule confidential. Meanwhile, preparations for the original travel dates continue. US officials held meetings in Paris with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Sunday and Monday, discussing potential trade deals, agricultural purchases, rare earth minerals, and other economic matters ahead of the planned summit.

Trump’s last visit to China as president took place in 2017. The requested delay reflects the challenge of balancing urgent international crises with long-term diplomatic initiatives.

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