Beijing: China on Tuesday announced that it is actively communicating with the United States regarding the scheduling of President Donald Trump's anticipated visit to Beijing. The announcement follows a statement from US President Donald Trump, who on Monday revealed his request to delay the trip by approximately one month due to the ongoing military operations against Iran.

According to Anadolu Agency, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian addressed reporters in Beijing, confirming that discussions are underway between the two countries, specifically focusing on the dates for President Trump's visit. This visit, initially scheduled by the White House to occur between March 31 and April 2, is now under reconsideration due to the escalating situation in the Middle East.

President Trump emphasized the necessity of postponing his visit to China, citing the importance of his presence in the US amid the conflict. He stated, "I'd love to, but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here, I feel." Despite these developments, Trump assured that the US maintains "a very good relationship" with China.

The potential delay coincides with the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began on February 28. This conflict has led to Iran's closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage responsible for handling around 20% of the global oil supply. However, when questioned about the trip's postponement being linked to the closure of the Strait, Lin Jian refuted such connections.

Lin stated, "We noted the US has publicly made clarifications on misguided media reports, calling them completely false." He further clarified that the US emphasized the visit's scheduling is not related to the Strait of Hormuz issue.

In a related development, President Trump has called upon China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK to join efforts in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open by deploying warships. However, no country has publicly committed to this plan so far. Tensions remain high in the Middle East as the US-Israeli military campaign has resulted in significant casualties, including the death of Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that host US military forces.