— The situation in the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters is tense, which affects international trade in goods and energy, Lin said during the briefing. At the same time, he assured that China is “in constant contact with all parties” regarding the current situation in the Middle East and “is monitoring its development on an ongoing basis.”
“We call on all sides to immediately cease hostilities to avoid further escalation,” Lin concluded.
Trump demands help. Beijing is silent
This was a reaction to the words of President Trump, who on Sunday demanded help in the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran.
What demand did Donald Trump make to Beijing?
What did Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian say about Trump's visit?
What actions is Iran taking in the Strait of Hormuz?
Why is the Strait of Hormuz an important transport route?
— I demand that other countries come and protect their territory, where they get their energy sources, Trump said, adding that he was in talks with “about seven” countries. He pointed out that China receives the most oil from the Persian Gulf countries, but did not specify whether this country is interested in taking action.
Will Donald Trump delay his visit to Beijing? The president set a condition
Separately, in an interview with the Financial Times, Trump said he could delay his visit to Beijing, planned for late March or early April, if China does not help unblock the waterway in the Persian Gulf.
When asked about this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman noted that “diplomacy at the level of heads of state plays an irreplaceable strategic role” in Beijing-Washington relations and assured that both sides “maintain communication” regarding Trump's visit.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key transport route for oil and gas, was de facto blocked by Iran in response to the US-Israeli attacks that began on February 28, which led to an increase in gasoline prices around the world.
