March 17, Tuesday, 2026

  1. US President Donald Trump says he has asked China to delay his planned visit to the country by about one month because of the US-Israeli military operation in Iran.
  2. Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro says the US side has not made concrete requests for Japan to send vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, including during his phone conversation with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday.
  3. Makers of oil-related products in Japan are starting to take measures as the mounting tension in the Middle East affects their business. Some are concerned about the supply of naphtha.  The raw material comes from crude oil and is used in various petroleum products.