10 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 6
Former Pentagon official Daniel Shapiro said Trump wants the conflict wrapped up before visiting Beijing on 14-15 May for talks with Xi Jinping.
Shapiro said a continuing Gulf war would strengthen China's leverage over Washington, including on Taiwan, and leave Trump seeking Xi's help to pressure Iran into accepting terms.
He added that ending the war would let Trump focus on economic deals, while an ongoing conflict could weaken US deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and bolster China's portrayal of America as destabilising.
Will President Trump trade the security of Taiwan for a Middle East peace deal during his high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping?
As the Hormuz blockade cripples the global economy, is the U.S. risking a recession to gain leverage over China and Iran?
Do new U.S. missiles in the Philippines signal a tougher stance on China, or are they a bargaining chip for the Beijing talks?