Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed opposition to any efforts to impose tolls on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and has shown interest in increasing purchases of U.S. oil to reduce China's future reliance on the strategic waterway, according to a White House official.
Xi's Remarks During Trump Meeting
Xi made these comments during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing on Thursday, the official said. While China's official readout of the meeting did not mention energy in the list of topics discussed, it confirmed that the two leaders talked about the Middle East. The meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Global Energy Context
China is the world's largest importer of crude oil and natural gas, while the United States is the biggest producer of both commodities. However, shipments between the two countries ground to a halt last year after China imposed levies on U.S. energy products in retaliation for Trump's sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods.
Global oil and gas supplies have come under severe pressure this year after Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, threatening to charge ships for passage. The closure of the strait has disrupted roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports, driving prices higher.
U.S. Blockade and Chinese Tanker
The United States has since started its own blockade to prevent ships from exiting the Persian Gulf. Notably, the Chinese oil supertanker Yuan Hua Hu appeared to pass through the blockade safely on Thursday.
Agreement on Free Passage
Both Xi and Trump agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy, according to the U.S. official. This alignment underscores the importance of maritime security for global energy markets.
