US Treasury's Bessent says China has been 'unreliable partner' by hoarding oil during war

He says Trump and Xi currently have “good working relationship”

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent waits for the first meeting of US President Donald Trump's anti-fraud task force convened by US Vice President JD Vance at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, DC, US, Mar 27, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that China had been an unreliable global partner during the Middle East war by hoarding oil supplies and limiting exports of certain goods, much as they hoarded medical supplies during the pandemic.

Bessent told reporters he had spoken with Chinese officials about the issue. He dodged a question about whether the dispute would derail US President Donald Trump's plan to visit Beijing at the end of the month, but said Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a very good working relationship.

"I think the message for the visit is stability. We've had great stability in the relationship since last summer; that emanates from the top down," he said. "I think that communication is the key."