During the morning of this Friday May 8and for the first time so far in the conflict in Middle Eastan attack on the Strait of Hormuz affected Chinese citizens, after a tanker with chinese crew was attacked on the route provided by the only maritime passage of Persian Gulf towards the open ocean.
Faced with this scenario, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Beijing confirmed the incident in one of the congestion points of greater strategic importance from around the world and expressed concern for the safety of all civilian vessels, in an increasingly tense environment after the clashes in the Middle East.
According to what was stated by Deutsche Welle, an international broadcaster from Germany, the attack on a ship with Chinese citizens is very relevantbecause China depends on the Strait of Hormuz to import more than half of its crude oil by sea, so this situation increases the impact of the conflict on a global scale.
Under the circumstances, the direct involvement of the Chinese increases the risks for the energy security internationally and could redefine China’s role in the diplomacy of the region, where he has promoted a comprehensive ceasefire to stop current conflicts and prevent escalation between the Republic of Iran, Israel and the United States.
Increases attack range
According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Lin Jian, so far they have not been registered victims among Chinese citizens after the attack on the ship in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the president of China, Xi Jinping, expressed its concern for the numerous oil tankers and crew members affected.
For its part, according to the American financial advisory company Bloombergthe fact that the attacked ship was Chinese owned and crewed increases the scope symbolic and political of the attack in the Strait of Hormuz, where Beijing had demanded the restoration of free transit for civilians and the protection of crews.
In turn, the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yistated that Beijing will increase its efforts to contribute to a peaceful solution in the Middle East and considered “unacceptable” the resumption of fighting in the Strait of Hormuz, where his country has played a key role in restoring tranquility.
Wang also highlighted Beijing’s concern over threats to its energy security and by Xi Jinping’s objective of preserving geopolitical stability, because China is positioned as a force and a pole of predictable growth in the face of global instabilitydriven by the quest to lead a multipolar world.
The relationship between China and Iran
Taking into account that the attack on the sea route occurred two days after the meeting between the ministers of Foreign Affairs of China and Iran, in which measures to reopen navigation through the Strait of Hormuz were discussed, a climate of strain between both nations, which weakened Chinese support for the Iranians.
Meanwhile, the increase in incidents in the Strait of Hormuz has completely immobilized numerous ships and oil tankers in the maritime route, so that the countries of the Middle East are seeking international cooperation to avoid a further deterioration of global security and stability, affected by the war.