Xi Jinping Speaks on US-Iran War, NYT: US-China Relations Face New Challenges

(Central News Agency, Taipei, April 15) The US-Iran war has lasted for over a month. Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke for the first time on the US-Iran war on the 14th, stating the need to "uphold the authority of international rule of law, not to 'use it when convenient, discard it when not'." The New York Times reported that Xi Jinping's remarks were clearly directed at US President Trump, and US-China relations face new challenges before Trump's expected visit to China in May.

The New York Times reported on the 14th that China remained relatively silent at the beginning of the US-Iran war because China had sufficient emergency oil reserves and some oil tankers were already on their way back home. China had also not dispatched warships to maintain security in the Strait of Hormuz at Trump's request.

The report stated that as US-Iran negotiations broke down, US President Trump ordered a blockade of Iranian ports starting at 10:00 AM Eastern Time on the 13th, after which China's attitude changed. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 14th, "The US's increased military deployment and targeted blockade actions will only intensify conflicts, exacerbate tensions, undermine the already fragile ceasefire, and further impact the safety of passage through the strait. This is dangerous and irresponsible behavior."

The report stated that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' remarks revealed the latest challenge facing Trump: how to prevent the US-Iran conflict from disrupting the thawing relationship with China.

On the 14th, when Xi Jinping met with Sheikh Khaled, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, he put forward four proposals for maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, including adhering to the principles of international rule of law, and pointing out that "the authority of international rule of law must be upheld, not 'used when convenient, discarded when not', and the world cannot be allowed to revert to the law of the jungle."

The report stated that Xi Jinping's remarks clearly referred to Trump. In January this year, Trump told the New York Times, "I don't need international law," and also said, "I have no intention of harming others." When pressed on whether his administration needed to abide by international law, Trump said, "I abide." But he made it clear that he would be the ultimate arbiter when such constraints applied to the United States.

Trump recently threatened that if China provides military assistance to Iran during the Middle East war, the US will impose a 50% tariff on Chinese goods imported into the US. However, the report stated that Trump may realize that any new tariffs could disrupt his plan to reach a trade deal with China. (Editor: Chen Kai-yu/Qiu Guo-qiang) 1150415

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