Trump says the US has requested China to delay Beijing summit by ‘a month or so’

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that his planned trip to Beijing later this month may be postponed, adding uncertainty to a visit expected to include talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Speaking at a news conference at the White House, Trump said the timing of the visit was still under discussion, citing the need to remain in Washington as the US manages its ongoing military campaign against Iran. The trip had been scheduled for March 31 to April 2.

“I don’t know, we’re working on that right now. We’re speaking to China. I’d love to, but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here, I feel,” he told reporters.

Trump added that the US has requested Beijing that “we delay it a month or so”.

“I’m looking forward to being with them. We have a very good relationship. But because of the war, there’s no tricks to it either … We got a war going on. I think it’s important that I be here. So it could be that we delay a little bit, not much.”

Trump threatens to delay China visit if Beijing does not send ships to help secure Hormuz

Earlier in the day Trump intensified pressure on China and other major oil importers to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil chokepoint.

South China Morning Post