BEIJING — On Monday, China emphasized that it possesses adequate energy resources as the Iran conflict disrupts oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. President Donald Trump urging Beijing to assist in securing this vital route.

According to Fu Linghui, spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s energy supply remains “relatively robust,” providing a “relatively solid” base to cope with external market fluctuations, as communicated to the media in Mandarin Chinese, translated by CNBC.

The bureau also revealed that China’s domestic crude oil output increased by 1.9% year-on-year to 35.73 million metric tons during January and February.

Trump mentioned on Sunday that China should contribute to efforts to restore oil supplies through the Hormuz route before his intended visit to Beijing at the close of this month, as reported by The Financial Times. He also indicated a potential delay in his travel plans to China.

Oil prices have spiked above $100 a barrel, nearing 4-year highs as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been hampered for most nations since the onset of the Iran conflict more than two weeks ago. Nonetheless, Iran has delivered over 11 million barrels of oil to China via the strait in that timeframe.

Trump asserted that Beijing should help maintain oil transportation through the strait since China depends on 90% of its oil from this route, the report indicated.

However, analysts have suggested that China only relies on the strait for approximately 40% to 50% of its maritime oil imports, noting that shipments through Hormuz make up just 6.6% of China’s overall energy consumption.

As of January, Beijing was estimated to possess 1.2 billion barrels of onshore crude reserves, among the largest in the world, sufficient to satisfy demand for three to four months.

As Senate Republicans gear up to vote on the SAVE America Act this week, Democrats continue to oppose the voter-ID proposal firmly endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Although House Republicans advanced one version of the bill in February, largely on party lines, they still require 60 votes in the Senate to overcome the filibuster. With a majority of only 53-47, Senate Republicans cannot move the legislation forward without support from Democratic counterparts, unless they amend the filibuster rules.

In the meantime, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., stated on Thursday that he would present the legislation for a vote this week to “put Democrats on record.”

As various versions of the legislation are in circulation, it is uncertain which one Thune intends to bring to the Senate floor for a vote next week.

“We still don’t know what Thune’s next steps are… but we’re ready for any eventuality,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York remarked to reporters Sunday afternoon during a press conference.

“My caucus is strongly convinced that this would be extremely damaging… one of the most significant setbacks in our country’s voting history,” he added.

The recently passed bill in the House would obligate Americans to demonstrate citizenship, such as through a certified birth certificate or passport, to register for federal elections. Additionally, it would enforce photo ID requirements for voting in person or via mail.

If implemented, the legislation could lead to “widespread voter suppression” for individuals unable to meet the requirements, according to Marc Elias, founder of the voter rights group Democracy Docket, who also addressed reporters during the Sunday conference.

“The majority of people do not possess a passport, and in truth, the majority do not have easy access to an original or certified copy of a birth certificate,” he stated.

Approximately 21 million Americans lack readily available documents to verify their citizenship, and 2.6 million Americans do not possess government-issued photo IDs, according to findings from the Brennan Center for Justice and the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement.

During fiscal year 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued about 27.3 million passports, which included approximately 4.5 million passport cards, as per the latest statistics.

The bill that passed in February would additionally require each state to regularly submit a list of eligible voters to the Department of Homeland Security to identify non-citizens and remove them from the voting rolls.

“What they are attempting here is just outrageous, and it has my caucus extremely motivated to do everything within our power to halt it,” Schumer stated during the Sunday call. “This is merely a manipulative strategy by Donald Trump to hijack the election.”

CNBC sought comments from the White House in response to criticisms from Schumer and voting rights activists regarding the legislation.

The anticipated vote on the SAVE America Act next week occurs less than eight months before the November midterm elections, which could jeopardize Republican dominance in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Recently, Trump has increasingly concentrated on the elections, insisting that Republicans should “nationalize” elections, and that he could instate voter-ID mandates via executive order. Trump has also emphasized the urgency of implementing the SAVE America Act.

“It needs to happen immediately. It takes precedence over all else. MUST BE PRIORITIZED,” he declared in a Truth Social post last week. “As President, I will not approve other Bills until this gets passed.”

— Reporting by CNBC’s Justin Papp contributed to this article

Oil loading activities at the port of Fujairah in the UAE have recommenced after a drone strike and subsequent fire, as reported by media on Sunday.

The blaze at the significant oil bunkering center on Saturday had led to halting some activities, according to reports. Reuters and Bloomberg stated on Sunday, citing unnamed industry insiders and individuals aware of the situation, that operations have resumed.

A representative for Abu Dhabi’s state oil corporation, ADNOC, which functions in Fujairah, referred CNBC to the Fujairah Media Office, which has not yet replied to CNBC’s email inquiries for comment.

On Saturday, Iran threatened to strike the infrastructure of its neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, telling residents to evacuate three significant ports that Tehran claims are now “legitimate targets” due to their usage by the U.S. for attacks on Iran.

Mizan, the official news agency of Iran’s judiciary, asserted without evidence that U.S. forces are stationed in the civilian ports of Jebel Ali, Khalifa, and Fujairah in the UAE. The agency advised inhabitants in and near those ports to evacuate immediately, stating that the facilities “might be struck in the coming hours.”

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had instructed the U.S. Central Command to conduct a bombing strike, targeting military positions on Iran’s Kharg Island for the first time.

Kharg Island has gained international attention as it is seen as one of Iran’s most critical economic assets. The terminal handles about 90% of the country’s crude oil exports and has a loading capacity of approximately 7 million barrels daily.

Experts suggest that any effort to attack or seize it would necessitate a ground troop operation, which the U.S. seems hesitant to pursue. Such an assault would also likely lead to a prolonged rise in already escalating oil prices.

On Friday, Brent crude oil futures finished above $100 per barrel for the second consecutive day, and the global oil standard has jumped over 40% since the onset of the conflict in Iran.