Journalist

Kwon Seog-rim
  • Trump delays summit with Xi about a month as Middle East conflict drags on
    Trump delays summit with Xi about a month as Middle East conflict drags on SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he has asked to push back his planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for later this month, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. When asked by reporters at the White House if the summit is set to go ahead as planned, Trump said, "I don't know, we're working on that right now." He added, "We've requested that we delay it a month or so." "We're speaking to China. I'd love to, but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here, I feel," he then further elaborated. The summit, originally scheduled for March 31 to April 2, was expected to serve as key momentum to mend relations between the two superpowers and work toward resolving various issues, including tariffs. But with the postponement, uncertainty looms until a new date is set. Some pundits speculate that Trump's request to delay the summit could be a move to pressure Beijing to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply. Trump had earlier urged five countries, including China and South Korea, to send warships to help keep the strategically important Strait of Hormuz open as the Middle East conflict which began with U.S.-led strikes on Iran late last month have dragged on with no clear end in sight. He later expanded his call to around seven countries. With his trip to Beijing postponed, Trump's possible meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is also unlikely to materialize anytime soon. 2026-03-17 11:30:14