2026-03-08 08:50
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2026-03-08 08:50
Another bulk carrier signaled that it was a Chinese ship, which allowed it to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed to world shipping for a week due to the armed conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.
According to Bloomberg, the Liberian-flagged Sino Ocean ship, approaching the strait controlled by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces, transmitted a target signal as “Chinese owner – All Chinese crew.” According to shipping database Equasis, the ship actually belongs to the Chinese company Aquila Shipping and is managed by Hong Kong-based Sinocean Shipping.
Data from Marine Traffic, a ship tracking platform, confirm that Sino Ocean passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday without any damage after previously receiving cargo from the port of Mina Saqr in the United Arab Emirates, and on the night from Saturday to Sunday it was already in the waters of the Strait of Oman, far from the Strait of Hormuz.
This is not the first ship that has declared its links with China this past week, hoping to safely sail through the blocked water area. On Thursday – according to an analysis by the Financial Times – an identical maneuver was used by the bulk carrier Iron Maiden, which transmitted the signal “Chinese owner”, which allowed it to safely cross the waters threatened by attack.
For Beijing, Middle Eastern waters are a key route through which almost half of China's oil imports must travel. An additional factor of Tehran's submission to the Chinese fleet is the fact that 90 percent Most of Iran's oil exports go to China, often via third countries to avoid sanctions.
But dozens of loaded bulk carriers and oil and gas tankers are not so lucky, and since Tuesday, when the IRCG fired on the Safeen Prestige ship and the helping tug Mussafah 2, they have been stuck in the waters of the Persian Gulf, afraid to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Most carriers have suspended their operations in this region.
On Friday, the administration of US President Donald Trump announced a reinsurance program worth $20 billion aimed at reviving shipping through this dangerous route. The United States also announced that its ships could escort ships sailing between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
However, it turns out that currently the best protection in these waters is to rely on China.
China's Foreign Minister: The war between Israel and the United States against Iran should not have broken out
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Sunday for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran. During the annual press conference in Beijing, he said that it was a conflict that should not have happened because it did not benefit anyone.
– The history of the Middle East has repeatedly shown the world that military force is not the solution, and weapons only breed new hatred. We call for an immediate cessation of military operations to prevent further escalation and spread of the fire of war, Minister Wang said.
The head of Chinese diplomacy presented five principles for solving the current crisis. Beijing demands, above all, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region. Second, Wang opposed the abuse of force, emphasizing that civilians cannot be victims of war and the world cannot retreat to the “law of the jungle.”
The third pillar is the principle of non-interference – Beijing categorically rejects attempts to overthrow governments or cause “color revolutions”, recognizing that the fate of the region should be decided by its inhabitants. The fourth point is a call for a political solution and a return to the negotiating table. In the fifth point, the Chinese diplomat appealed to world powers to “return to the path of justice” and take responsibility for peace instead of striving for domination.
Wang assured that China, as a strategic partner of Middle Eastern countries, is ready to cooperate to restore order in the region under the Global Security Initiative.
The head of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also referred to the visit of US President Donald Trump to China, announced for the end of March. He warned that the lack of dialogue between superpowers risks global conflict. – We cannot change each other, but we can change the way we coexist, he said, calling for relations to be based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
The minister expressed hope that 2026 will bring stability between Washington and Beijing. The aim of Donald Trump's visit to China is to “extend the list of cooperation and shorten the list of disputes.” Wang stressed that successful summit talks are essential to avoid catastrophic misunderstandings and to meet the expectations of the international community.
From Beijing Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)
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