China urges protection of shipping through Strait of Hormuz amid regional conflict

China called on all parties involved in the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, in what is so far the most direct appeal by Iran’s largest economic partner for trade to continue along the strategic maritime route.

Tanker traffic through the chokepoint has effectively stalled after the United States and Israel launched a bombing campaign over the weekend, prompting Iran to retaliate with attacks across the region.

As the world’s largest importer of oil and gas, China is among the countries most exposed to a potential closure of the strait, although it maintains substantial reserves. Nearly half of China’s crude oil imports transited the waterway in December.

Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said “China urges all parties to immediately cease military operations, avoid further escalation and safeguard the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Senior executives in the gas industry previously told Bloomberg that China has been quietly pressing Iranian officials to avoid actions that could disrupt exports of natural gas from Qatar or other energy shipments that pass through the strait.

So far, at least four commercial vessels have reportedly been damaged.

China has become a crucial economic lifeline for Iran as the largest buyer of its crude oil. However, the world’s second-largest economy also depends heavily on other Persian Gulf producers for both oil and gas supplies, with shipments of both fuels needing to transit the narrow waterway.

Qatar, which accounts for roughly one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, is a particular concern. After an Iranian drone strike on Monday, the country halted production at Ras Laffan, the world’s largest LNG export facility — the first full shutdown in nearly three decades of operations.

Chinese government officials have been urging senior Iranian counterparts to ensure that Tehran does not target oil tankers or LNG carriers passing through the strait, allowing energy supplies to continue flowing, according to executives at state-owned companies briefed by government officials.

Those executives also told Bloomberg that Iranian authorities were asked to avoid attacks on export hubs such as Qatar, which alone supplies about 30% of China’s LNG imports — a significant share even when accounting for pipeline deliveries and other sources.

The executives requested anonymity because the discussions are not public.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that while Beijing supports efforts to safeguard national security, Tehran should also consider the “reasonable concerns” of its neighbors, according to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry. The statement did not mention energy supplies.

Earlier, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Beijing was “deeply concerned” about the widening of the conflict.

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Source: Valor Econômico

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