SCMP: "Middle East Turmoil... Trump's 'May Visit to China' Also Uncertain"

As the stalemate in the Middle East war continues, there are growing views that U.S. President Donald Trump's planned visit to China in the middle of next month is also uncertain.

U.S. President Donald Trump

According to Yonhap News on April 23, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) quoted a commentary by Professor Diao Daming of the School of International Studies at Renmin University, saying, "The possibility of President Trump's visit to China will depend on the Trump Administration's comprehensive assessment of various factors, including the situation in the Middle East and the trajectory of U.S.-China relations." The report did not rule out the possibility that President Trump's visit to China, which was already postponed once and rescheduled for April 14-15, may be delayed again.

The United States and Iran are facing difficulties in peace negotiations, with last-minute extensions occurring just ahead of the ceasefire deadline. The current war, which began with an attack by the United States and Israel on February 28, has now entered its eighth week. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted energy supplies to countries around the world. According to the outlet, the Chinese government has also not confirmed the exact timing of President Trump's visit to China.

However, if the U.S.-China summit takes place on the scheduled dates, it is expected to draw global attention as it would mark the first visit by a U.S. president to China in 10 years. Zhu Junwei, head of the Horizon Insight Center, a Chinese think tank, said, "President Trump may visit China to reach agreements on gas and agricultural products, promote these achievements to voters, and seek China's assistance on the Iran issue." He added, however, that "if President Trump's visit is postponed again, it may damage the president's credibility, but it is unlikely to have a significant impact on bilateral relations," leaving open the possibility of another delay.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.