JAKARTA \u2014 US President Donald Trump has unexpectedly pressured China\nto immediately send military assistance to secure the Strait of Hormuz\nfrom the threat of Iranian blockade. On Monday, 16 March 2026, Trump\nemphasised that China is one of the countries that benefits most from\nthe stability of that corridor and should participate in security\noperations.<\/p>\n
In a telephone interview with the Financial Times published that day,\nTrump highlighted China\u2019s heavy dependence on energy supplies passing\nthrough the vital strait. Trump specifically requested assistance from\nChinese President Xi Jinping to help lift the blockade of the strait in\nan upcoming summit meeting, but also indicated that action should be\ntaken more quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think China should also help because China gets 90% of its oil\nfrom the Strait. This is really for China and many other countries,\u201d\nTrump said.<\/p>\n
Trump also questioned why the United States should continue to bear\nthe burden alone in maintaining security of the Strait of Hormuz. He\nargued that the US military presence there actually provides more\nbenefit to China than to America itself, making Beijing\u2019s involvement\nhighly logical.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is only right that those who benefit from the Strait help ensure\nthat nothing bad happens there,\u201d Trump stated firmly.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s firm request came after China\u2019s Foreign Ministry unexpectedly\nintensified its criticism of attacks targeting commercial vessels amid\nIranian military operations. The vital corridor is a conduit for\napproximately one quarter of global crude oil shipments via sea routes,\nnow facing serious threats due to escalating tensions targeting vessels\ninside and around the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Guo Jiakun stated at a regular\npress conference on Friday, 13 March 2026, that Beijing was taking a\nfirm position regarding stability in the Gulf region. This step was\ntaken as international concerns grew over the security of international\nshipping lanes that serve as the lifeblood of global energy\nsupplies.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina disagrees with attacks against Gulf states and condemns all\nindiscriminate attacks against civilians and non-military targets,\u201d Guo\nJiakun stated firmly without directly naming Iran, as cited by\nNewsweek.<\/p>\n
NATO Warning<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, whilst pressuring China, Trump also vented his frustration\nat NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) members, whom he considers\nto have failed to contribute proportionately. He warned that NATO\nmembers would face a very poor future if they refused to cooperate in\nsending military assistance to the conflict zone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is no response or if the response is negative, I think that\nwill be very bad for NATO\u2019s future,\u201d Trump threatened.<\/p>\n
Trump added that the United States has been very supportive in\nhelping European countries regarding the Ukraine conflict, despite the\ndistance being thousands of miles away. He now demanded reciprocal\naction from his allies to be present in the Strait of Hormuz to clear\nmines and repel drone threats.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been very nice. We don\u2019t have to help them with Ukraine.\nUkraine is thousands of miles away from us. But we help them. Now we\nwill see if they help us. Because I have been saying for a long time\nthat we will be there for them, but they won\u2019t be there for us. And I\u2019m\nnot sure they will be there,\u201d Trump concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trump-urges-china-to-deploy-military-support-requests-xi-jinping-send-warships-to-strait-of-hormuz-1773672774", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }