Trump-Xi meeting may be postponed: Beijing denies ‘false reports’, says delay not linked to Strait of Hormuz issue

US President Donald Trump is now considering delaying his high-stakes meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the BBC reported.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said that he might delay the meeting by a month or so, stressing that it is crucial he remained in the US to oversee the war.

According to the schedule, the meeting between the two leaders is set to take place between 31 March and 2 April, making it their second visit since Trump took office in January last year. The first meeting between the two after Trump won a second term was held in October in South Korea on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Beijing also denied any connection between the delayed meeting and issues regarding the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that is responsible for nearly 20% of the world's oil supply. The spokesperson added, “We have noted that the US side has publicly clarified these false reports by the media, stating that the relevant reports are completely wrong, and emphasised that the visit has nothing to do with the issue of the open navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.”

The Strait has been shut by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. The closure of the Strait has sent panic among traders and rattled the global energy markets last week, raising concerns over oil supply disruptions.

Commenting on the proposed delay, Trump said, "There's no tricks to it either," and added. "It's very simple. We've got a war going on. I think it's important that I be here."

Trump also said that he is looking forward to a meeting with Xi Jinping, saying that the two have a "very good relationship".

Last week, Washington also announced that it has launched trade investigations against Beijing and a dozen other countries for "unfair trade practices".

In the last few days, US and Chinese representatives met in Paris for negotiations on investments, tariffs, and economic sanctions. The two sides reached a consensus on several issues and will carry on with talks, Chinese trade representative Li Chenggang said.

Chinese negotiators also expressed "serious concern" over Washington's plans to investigate Beijing's trade practices, urging them to maintain economic stability.