US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that he would be permanently opening up the Strait of Hormuz—that he would be "doing it for" China ahead of his scheduled visit to Beijing next month.
In that regard, he also claimed that the move had made China "very happy"—allegedly enough for it to have "agreed not to send weapons to Iran".
"President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well!" he wrote in a Truth Social post, marking a change in tone from his previous post with a tariff warning against China.
In an April 12 conversation with Fox News, Trump had warned China against sending weapons to Iran—especially the shoulder-mounted anti-air missile systems (MANPADs)—saying that they would face a 50 per cent tariff if they did so.
China swiftly responded to the tariff threat, noting that Beijing would take "resolute countermeasures" in case the US were to impose its 50 per cent tariff.
On the same day as Trump's tariff threat, a CNN report had also alleged that China had been sending MANPADs to Iran amid the war in the Gulf, which is now nearing 50 days.
The report, citing US intelligence, had also claimed that Iran had been using the fragile two-week ceasefire as an opportunity to replenish its weapons systems before the fighting likely resumed.
The change in Trump's tone on China also comes as a US-imposed naval blockade is currently in effect over the crucial waterway, choking the flow of vessels through the strait.
The Central Command of the US military (CENTCOM) also claimed on Wednesday that the blockade had been "fully implemented" over a period of 36 hours, in which time it had "completely halted" Iran's maritime trade.
China has, however, warned the US against the naval blockade interfering in China's trade relations with Iran.
"We have trade and energy agreements with Iran; we expect others not to interfere in our affairs," said Chinese defence minister Admiral Dong Jun earlier this week.