00:00The United States is clearly hoping that China could somehow or rather pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
00:06and perhaps proceed towards some sort of a deal.
00:10Do you think perhaps this idea that Beijing has leverage over Tehran is perhaps over-exaggerated somewhat?
00:19Well, whatever leverage, and I think there is some leverage that Beijing has with Taiwan, is not so much the
00:26question as to whether Beijing would use it.
00:28And I think they've made pretty clear they wouldn't.
00:31Secretary Rubio, in his readout a few minutes ago, said that the United States doesn't need China's help.
00:36That's the message that the U.S. has been passing consistently.
00:40And if the U.S. did need China's help, China would be reluctant to give it because China's interest in
00:46Iran go well beyond the present closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
00:50It is restricting flow of oil to China.
00:53In many ways, China is being affected more than many other countries.
00:56But the Chinese have the resources to withstand that.
00:59The Chinese see President Trump, and many observers do as well, as coming to China as the weakest U.S.
01:05president ever to visit China.
01:07And they look to take advantage of that by trying to get concessions from Trump on Taiwan by giving nothing
01:12anywhere else.
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