Rubio: US wants China to take on a more active role in the Hormuz Strait crisis

“We hope to persuade them to play a more active role in stopping what Iran is doing and trying to do in the Persian Gulf”, Rubio told Fox News in a flight from Air Force One to China.

Marco Rubio is escorting US President Donald Trump to his official visit to the second largest economy in the world. A large American delegation arrived yesterday in Beijing. US President Trump is expected to meet with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping today.

The State Secretary argued that China has “too much” reason to want the crisis in the strait, which is virtually impassable, to be resolved, remembering that there are also Chinese ships stranded in the Persian Gulf.

Remembering that China has an export-oriented economy, he considered it is being affected by the economic consequences of the crisis, because other countries are buying less Chinese products.

The minister's statements, which is also a national security adviser at first glance, conflict with what President Trump said. Asked about this, the Republican said that “I don't think we need help” from China to end the crisis that began when the US-Israel War against the Islamic Republic began on February 28th, despite the fact that indirect talks through Pakistan seem to have reached a deadlock.

The storm has been practically paralyzed since then, while the US Army has placed a blockade on Iranian ports in retaliation.

Beijing is among Tehran's most important trade and strategic partners and is the largest importer of Iranian crude oil exports.