- Trump stated that Chinese leader President Xi assured him that China has not supplied weapons to Iran, and mentioned that China is satisfied with the U.S. “permanent opening” of the Hormuz Strait.
- However, as of now, the White House has not specified the details of the "permanent opening"; Reuters noted that shipping through the Hormuz Strait remains restricted, with traffic significantly below pre-war levels.
- The Chinese Foreign Ministry publicly criticized the U.S. blockade actions the day before as “dangerous and irresponsible,” denying that China provided military aid to Iran.
Trump Signals Cooperation, But No Formal Policy Shift Yet
On April 15, during an interview with Fox Business, Trump stated that he had written to Chinese leader President Xi requesting China not supply weapons to Iran. He received a reply claiming China has not done so. Trump then posted on Truth Social saying he is “permanently opening” the Hormuz Strait, which China is very pleased with, noting that it benefits not only China but the entire world. Reuters pointed out that the White House has not immediately responded to the specific policy implications of this statement.
Trump also mentioned that he will receive a warm welcome from the Chinese leader during his upcoming visit to China in a few weeks, describing their cooperation as “smart and good” in his personal style. While these expressions indeed signal easing tensions, they remain Trump's personal political narrative, with no new formal agreements, joint statements, or specific security assurances announced by either the U.S. or China yet.
Beijing's Official Stance Remains Cautious, Even Critical
From the official statements released by China, the tone is much more conservative than Trump's. On April 14, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the U.S.'s intensifying military deployment and targeted blockade during the effective period of temporary ceasefire will exacerbate confrontation, escalate tensions, undermine the fragile ceasefire, and endanger safe passage through the Hormuz Strait, labeling such actions as “dangerous and irresponsible.” China called on all parties to comply with the ceasefire and resolve disputes through political and diplomatic channels to restore normal navigation through the Hormuz Strait as soon as possible.
Regarding the accusations of providing military aid to Iran, Beijing also denies them. On April 14, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that China has always managed military exports lawfully, prudently, and responsibly, and dismissed the media reports as “utterly fabricated.” This suggests that Trump's claim of “China agreeing not to supply weapons to Iran” is more aligned with the Chinese perspective of “denying any past supply” rather than acknowledging prior supply and stopping now. The two narratives differ significantly in diplomatic semantics.
