China demands immediate reopening of Hormuz Strait as 50% of its oil import faces collapse
Galileo and M Sophia oil tankers (Photo: REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo)
China has issued an "urgent and immediate" demand for all parties in the Iranian conflict to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as tanker traffic grinds to a halt, Bloomberg reported on March 3.
This move signals a direct effort by Beijing to leverage its position as the Islamic Republic’s primary economic partner.
Following the launch of the U.S.-Israeli operations Lion’s Roar and Epic Fury — which resulted in the death of Ayatollah Khamenei and senior IRGC leadership — shipping through the energy hub has been paralyzed.
Stability in the Hormuz Strait is a matter of national survival for Beijing. In December alone, nearly half of China’s crude oil imports passed through this narrow chokepoint. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China "strongly urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, avoid escalating tensions, and ensure the safety of navigation."
Beyond public statements, Beijing is reportedly exerting significant "behind-the-scenes" pressure on Tehran:
Sources from Chinese state-owned enterprises indicate that officials are pressuring their Iranian counterparts to ensure that oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tankers are not targeted by retaliatory strikes.
Beijing is particularly concerned about Qatari gas, which accounts for 30% of China’s LNG supply. Any disruption to these shipments or strikes on Qatari export hubs will cause an immediate energy crisis in China.
Escalation in the Middle East
The conflict intensified on Feb. 28 after coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes destroyed the residence of Iran’s Supreme Leader and eliminated 48 key regime officials. Iran responded with ballistic missile barrages against U.S. military bases in Qatar, the UAE, and other regional allies.
As of March 2, 2026, approximately 150 tankers have dropped anchor in the Persian Gulf, driving global gas prices to record highs.
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