China Blames US, Israel for Hormuz Blockage
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- China's foreign ministry blamed US and Israeli strikes on Iran as the "root cause" of the Strait of Hormuz blockage, with spokeswoman Mao Ning stating on April 2 that "illegal military operations" had disrupted navigation through the vital waterway.
- Trump told oil-importing countries to "just take" and "protect" the Strait of Hormuz for themselves after Tehran effectively closed the passage in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes.
- Trump warned of "two to three weeks" of heavy strikes that would "bring (Iran) back to the Stone Ages" and said Washington would target Iran's electricity generating plants if no deal is reached, even as he assured the public the conflict is nearing an end.
- Mao Ning rejected Trump's threats, saying "military means cannot fundamentally solve the problem, and the escalation of conflicts is not in the interests of either side."
- Brent crude has risen to around US$100 since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, with the effective closure of the strait sending global oil prices surging 40-50%.
- Several airlines including Air China, Cathay Pacific, Air India, Qantas, Air France-KLM, and SAS have raised fares and fuel surcharges to offset higher jet fuel costs, with Air China raising domestic surcharges from March 5.
- China is the main buyer of Iranian oil, most of which transits the Strait of Hormuz, giving Beijing a direct supply-line interest in keeping the waterway open.
Why it matters: China is both the diplomatic critic of the strikes and the largest customer of Iranian oil, so the 40-50% oil price surge triggered by the Hormuz closure hits its economy and aviation sector directly while it publicly denounces the US-Israeli campaign that caused it. The clash sets up a open pressure point: Trump wants importing nations to physically take control of the strait, while Beijing insists the underlying conflict — not the waterway — must be resolved.
