The Chinese supertanker Yuan Hua Hu carrying crude oil is one of several China-linked ships that were scheduled to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the last days before Donald Trump's important visit to China, CNN reports, citing data from MarineTraffic.
See also: A case on a knife's edge? China spoke out on the Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump in China. Iran lets a tanker pass through the Strait of Hormuz
The tanker is currently in the Gulf of Oman, heading towards the Chinese city of Zhoushan.
The crossing took place during US President Donald Trump's visit to China, which is the main importer of Iranian crude oil. The US president is expected to encourage Chinese leader Xi Jinping to put pressure on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, writes CNN.
Strait of Hormuz
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Adam Ziemienowicz / PAP / photos
A Chinese tanker passed through Hormuz
MarineTraffic data shows the tanker passed through the strait on Wednesday morning using a northern route near Larak Island, which maritime intelligence agency Lloyd's List Intelligence previously said is a point used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to control access to the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transport route, has been virtually blocked since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28. Iran has previously allowed some Chinese ships to pass through. Tehran opened the strait to countries it considered friendly, including China, Russia and Pakistan.
Donald Trump in China
Donald Trump's arrival in Beijing is the first visit of an American president since his last trip in 2017. It takes place against the background of the rivalry between the world's largest economies that has been intensifying for years – and recently also the US war with Iran, a close partner of China.
Trump's two-day talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which begin Thursday morning local time, are a rare opportunity to discuss technology, trade and Taiwan.
See also: Elon Musk and Tim Cook are flying with Trump to China. Nvidia's CEO is staying
Donald Trump's talks with Xi Jinping
The talks could also influence how the conflict between the US and Iran ends. Beijing, as a close partner of Tehran, is emerging as a potential peace mediator, despite Trump's assurances that it does not need China to end the war.
Broader Sino-US talks may result in important agreements in areas such as agriculture and aviation, as well as progress in stabilizing trade relations. American business leaders flew to China together with Trump.
Source: CNN
