"President Donald Trump is set to leave Tuesday for Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping after weeks of trying, and failing, to persuade the Chinese government to use its considerable leverage to prod Iran to agree to U.S. terms to end the two-month war - or at the very least, reopen the Strait of Hormuz."
"Trump has veered between venting that China, the world's biggest buyer of Iranian oil, hasn't done more to get the Islamic Republic in line, and acknowledging that Xi's government helped de-escalate the conflict last month by nudging Tehran back to ceasefire talks when negotiations wobbled."
"But ahead of the U.S. leader's high-stakes visit, the White House has set low expectations that Trump will be able to persuade Xi to change China's posture. Instead, the administration seems determined not to let differences on Iran overshadow efforts to make headway on other difficult matters in the complicated relationship - ranging from trade to further Chinese cooperation to block exports of fentanyl precursors."
"Beijing publicly insists that it wants to see the war end and has been working diplomatically behind the scenes to help its ally Pakistan push to broker a peace agreement. It has also sent a "subtle message of discontent to Iran" for closing the Strait of Hormuz, and to the U.S. for its blockade of Iranian shipping, said Ahmed Aboudouh, a specialist on China's influence in the Middle East with the London-based Chatham House think tank."
President Donald Trump is traveling to Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping after efforts to persuade China to use its leverage to push Iran to accept U.S. terms to end a two-month war or at least reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has alternated between criticizing China for not doing more and acknowledging Chinese help in de-escalation through nudging Tehran back to ceasefire talks. The White House is setting low expectations for persuading Xi to change China’s approach. Officials want Iran issues not to derail broader relationship goals, including trade and Chinese cooperation to block fentanyl precursor exports. China says it wants the war to end, has worked diplomatically to support Pakistan’s peace efforts, and has signaled discontent to Iran and the U.S. regarding the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian shipping blockade.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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