Beijing, March 16 China called on all countries on Monday to immediately halt military operations in West Asia in response to US President Donald Trump's appeal to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open for international transport, ruling out Beijing joining any international naval force that would risk its close ties with Iran.
The effective closure of the vital waterway by Iran in retaliation for airstrikes by the US and Israel has proven catastrophic for global energy and trade flows, causing the largest oil supply disruption and soaring global oil prices.
China also said it is in talks with the US about Trump's planned visit to Beijing later this month, amid the US President's assertion that he may delay his China trip due to the Iran war.
Regarding Trump's call for China and other countries to join, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian virtually ruled out Beijing's participation in the naval armada to ensure the safe passage of ships out of the Strait of Hormuz.
"The recent tense situation in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters has impacted international trade and energy flows, disrupting peace and stability in the region and beyond," Lin told a media briefing while answering questions on Trump's appeal.
Instead, he said, "China once again calls on parties to immediately stop military operations, avoid further escalation of the tense situation, and prevent regional turmoil from further impacting the global economy."
He, however, said China is in "communication with relevant parties to work for the de-escalation of the situation."
On Trump's comment that he may delay his visit to China at the end of the month, apparently linking his visit to Beijing's response to his appeal to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, Lin said both Beijing and Washington are in talks about the US President's visit.
China and the United States are in communication with each other regarding Trump's visit to China, Lin said, adding that head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic leading role in China-US relations.
His comments came as top trade officials of both countries held talks in Paris ahead of Trump's planned visit to Beijing from March 31st to April 4.
The talks are being held between Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The talks, which began on March 14, were scheduled to go on till March 17.
On the progress of the talks, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a senior Chinese official as saying in Paris on Monday that China and the US have agreed that stable bilateral economic and trade relations are beneficial to both countries and the world.
In an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump said China's reliance on oil from West Asia means it has to help with a new coalition he is trying to put together to get oil tanker traffic moving through the strait after Iran's threats have throttled global flows of oil.
"We'd like to know before the trip whether Beijing will help. We may delay," Trump said in the interview.
In a recent social media post, Trump urged countries including China, the UK, France, and Japan to deploy warships to keep the strait "open and safe."
China, a close ally of Iran and recipient of Iranian oil supplies at a cheaper rate, has condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and criticised the assassination of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei in American airstrikes.