While China is unwilling to turn on Iran, the U.S. president’s request provides Taiwan a chance to boost its international standing, they said.
As the Iran war puts shipping in the Strait of Hormuz near a complete halt, President Donald Trump has called on countries to join a naval escort to reopen the crucial passage. The Chinese communist regime’s response exposes its true intent, while Taiwan has an opportunity to better position itself on the international stage, according to analysts.
About 20 percent of the world’s oil supply and 20 percent of its supply of liquefied natural gas pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s disruption of shipping in the waterway has a serious impact on global energy supplies, especially in Asian countries.
According to public data, China accounts for 37 percent of the crude oil transported through the strait, followed by India at 14.7 percent, South Korea at 12 percent, and Japan at 10.9 percent. Approximately 70 percent of Taiwan’s crude oil imports and 38 percent of its natural gas supply transit the waterway.
China has immense interests in the strait. More than half of its crude oil originates from the Middle East—approximately 45 percent of which must pass through Hormuz—while roughly 30 percent of its liquefied natural gas imports go through the strait.
On March 14, Trump called upon countries to join an escort to help reopen the key waterway.
“The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!“ Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. ”The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well.” He specifically mentioned that he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others would send ships to the area.
As of March 21, 22 countries have stated that they will join Trump’s plan to ensure safe passage of the strait. China has rejected the request.
On March 16, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China once again “calls upon all parties to immediately cease military operations.”
Trump has since postponed his visit to China originally scheduled for late March, citing the war in Iran as the reason.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said of the delay: “It would have nothing to do with the Chinese making a commitment to the Strait of Hormuz. It would obviously be in their interest to do so, but a postponement would not be as a result of any ask from the president not being met.”
By Alex Wu
