Washington DC, May 14 -- A divergence in tone has emerged within the United States leadership over China's role in managing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the border conflict in West Asia, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging Beijing to take a more active diplomatic role to find a solution for reopening the strategic waterway, while President Donald Trump has downplayed the necessity of Chinese involvement, asserting that Washington can handle the situation independently.

Speaking in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News aboard Air Force One ahead of their arrival in China, Rubio said the US has been pressing Beijing to use its influence, particularly at the United Nations, to help de-escalate tensions involving Iran...