BEIJING

China signaled Monday that it is cautious about joining US President Donald Trump’s plans to establish a global coalition to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told Anadolu on the sidelines of a press conference that Beijing is calling on all parties to halt military operations, avoid further escalation, and prevent regional turmoil that could further harm global economic growth.

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters have affected global trade and energy supply routes following joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on neighboring oil and cloud infrastructure, as well as US bases. Any closure of the vital waterway threatens regional and global peace and stability.

Lin said Beijing is in talks with all parties and working to de-escalate tensions, but he declined to comment on Trump’s statement that he may postpone his visit to China at the end of March if Beijing does not cooperate.

Trump’s Strait of Hormuz coalition to police energy transport corridor

Trump announced he is in talks with seven countries over security in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions due to US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes.

Trump told US reporters aboard Air Force One that China receives about 90% of its oil through the strait and so he asked Beijing whether they will join his initiative, the answer of which remains unclear.

Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday that he hopes China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK will send vessels to the strait so it “will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated.”

Trump told the Financial Times that he will visit China depending on whether Beijing agrees to join the initiative.

Joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran

The US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 amid ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Tehran responded by striking targets in several regional countries, including Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain, where US bases are located, as well as Israel.

Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and several high-ranking officials were killed in the joint US and Israeli attacks.

The death toll in Iran exceeded 1,348, while the number of wounded surpassed 17,000, according to Iranian officials.

*Writing by Emir Yildirim in Istanbul