China pressures Iran to block Strait of Hormuz

China has urged all parties to the Iran-Iran war to ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the continuation of trade through the waterway, Bloomberg reported.

“China urges all parties to immediately cease military operations, avoid escalating tensions, and ensure the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

Senior gas industry executives have previously said that China has been putting pressure on Iranian officials behind the scenes to avoid actions that could disrupt Qatari gas exports or other energy supplies through the strait.

Bloomberg notes that China has been a lifeline for Iran, buying the vast majority of the country’s oil. China also depends on the wider Gulf region for both oil and gas supplies from Qatar, and cargoes from both need to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

But on March 2, Qatar halted production of liquefied natural gas at the world’s largest export facility.

An energy facility owned by gas giant Qatar Energy was attacked on Monday by two Iranian drones.

Qatar is the world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas after the United States and plays a key role in balancing the needs of Asian and European markets. Asian customers account for 82% of state-owned QatarEnergy’s customer base.

Iran warned on Saturday, February 28, that it would close the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian military had reportedly blocked the strait, but on Sunday, March 1, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said it would not be closed to civilian vessels.

Reuters reported that at least 150 tankers were anchored offshore.

Shipping companies Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM and MSC were also reported to be rerouting ships after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic there has fallen by 86-90% compared to average.

Also on March 2, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Ebrahim Jabbari, said that the Strait of Hormuz was “closed” and that Iran would open fire on any vessel attempting to pass through that route.

Tags: Iran, China, war