The White House said on the 25th (local time) that President Donald Trump will visit Beijing, China, on May 14–15 to hold a summit with President Xi Jinping. The trip, initially planned for late March, was delayed about six weeks as the war between the United States and Iran dragged on. Since taking office, the Trump administration has vowed to shift the security fulcrum to Asia. But as armed conflict has pulled it back into Middle East turmoil, some note that its core task of a strategy to counter China is being disrupted. With vast resources flowing to the Middle East, anxiety is growing among allies in the Asia-Pacific.
According to reports from major outlets including Reuters and the New York Times (NYT) on the 25th, the White House officially announced Trump's China trip that day and cited the Iran war as the reason for postponing the meeting. White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing, "President Xi understood that President Trump would remain in the United States during combat operations." The United States, which began airstrikes on Iran together with Israel on Feb. 28, has set a goal of ending the operation within four to six weeks.
On his social media, President Trump wrote, "The delegation is finalizing preparations for a historic visit," adding, "I sincerely look forward to a monumental event with President Xi." He also unveiled a plan to hold a second summit in Washington as a return visit.
The war has put the U.S. security strategy to maintain peace in the Asia-Pacific to a major test. First, the United States is urgently pulling key military assets deployed in Asia to the Middle East. In addition to 2,500 Marines stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and an aircraft carrier strike group, some of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) equipment and Patriot interceptor missiles deployed in Korea are also heading to the Middle East. Signs of a prolonged war are emerging, with the Department of Defense requesting an additional $200 billion budget from Congress.
Allied nations are deeply concerned about a security vacuum in the region. If U.S. military power in Asia weakens, it could give China an opening to apply stronger military pressure in flashpoints including Taiwan. The energy supply crisis Asian countries face due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is also a headache.
Foreign and security experts in the United States sharply criticize the hasty military intervention in the Middle East. Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), said, "The Iran war makes it clear how hard it is for the United States to focus on Asia," adding, "Some countries worried about U.S. security support may try to hedge risks, which in the medium to long term risks emboldening China." Ryan Hass, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, also voiced concern. He said, "If the Middle East war drags on, President Trump will inevitably hold a weaker hand against China," adding, "When China rejects U.S. demands, there will be that much less capacity to apply pressure through force."