China Resumes US Oil & LNG Purchases Amid Hormuz Tensions, Signaling Diplomatic Shift

• China is quietly returning to the US energy market, resuming crude oil and LNG purchases after a year-long hiatus due to trade tensions.
• Nearly 600,000 barrels per day of American crude are scheduled for China-bound tankers in April, marking the first such flows since early 2025.
• The move comes as geopolitical risks in West Asia and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz push Beijing to diversify its energy supply sources.
• Renewed purchases offer a diplomatic win for both Trump and Xi Jinping ahead of their planned summit, aligning with trade deficit reduction and energy security goals.
• While a partial reversal of the 2025 collapse in US energy imports, analysts caution the recovery remains tentative and dependent on market and political conditions.