Rubio: Trump, Xi discussed Hormuz, Taiwan and military tensions

President Donald Trump raised the Iran war and security in the Strait of Hormuz during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, highlighting how Hormuz and Taiwan are becoming increasingly central to US-China strategic tensions.

Rubio said Washington did not ask Beijing to intervene on Iran, despite expectations that the conflict and the Strait of Hormuz would dominate the agenda, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

“We are not asking for China’s help. We don’t need their help,” Rubio said, stressing that the US was not seeking external mediation on Iran or the associated maritime tensions.

The Strait of Hormuz — a critical passageway for global oil shipments — was discussed in the context of broader concerns over energy security and regional escalation. Rubio noted that while the US is not dependent on Chinese assistance, global markets would ultimately feel the impact of instability.

“We are not immune to global oil prices at some point, because we do buy from the global market,” he said. “They’ve got to get involved in this as well.”

He added that both sides had expressed opposition to any move that would further destabilise shipping routes.

“The Chinese side said they are not in favour of militarising the Straits of Hormuz, and they’re not in favour of a tolling system, and that’s our position,” Rubio said, suggesting a rare point of convergence between Washington and Beijing on maritime security.

Beyond the Gulf, Taiwan emerged as another core issue in the talks, with Xi warning of potential escalation if tensions remain unresolved.

Xi warned that Taiwan-related disputes could lead to “clashes and even conflicts” if not handled carefully, according to Chinese readouts of the meeting.

Taiwan remains the most sensitive geopolitical flashpoint in US–China relations. Washington continues to maintain a policy of “strategic ambiguity” while providing defensive arms to Taipei.

Rubio said the US position had not shifted.

“Our policies on that have not changed,” he said. “It’s been pretty consistent across multiple presidential administrations, and remains consistent now.”

He also indicated that arms sales to Taiwan were not a central focus of the discussions, despite heightened Chinese concern over US military support.

“From our perspective, any forced change in the status quo and the situation that’s there now would be bad for both countries,” Rubio said.

Rubio added that Trump also raised human rights concerns in Hong Kong, including the case of publisher Jimmy Lai, though he gave no indication of any agreement.

By Aghakazim Guliyev