China Urges Regional Efforts To Resume Safe Passage Through Hormuz After Attack On Tanker

Last Updated:May 09, 2026, 16:23 IST

A Chinese-owned oil products tanker was reportedly attacked near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, just before a meeting between the foreign ministers of China and Iran.

China on Saturday called for “concrete steps" from regional countries to resume unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the safety of civilian vessels and crew members after a Chinese-owned oil tanker was reportedly attacked near the strategic waterway.

According to Chinese media, a Chinese-owned oil products tanker marked “CHINA OWNER & CREW" was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. There were Chinese nationals on board the vessel, although no casualties were reported.

The attack occurred before a meeting between China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Beijing on Wednesday, during which they discussed reopening the strait amid the ongoing impasse with the United States.

Yu Jing, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in India, shared a message from the Chinese Foreign Ministry calling for the resumption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

“The tanker in question is sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands with Chinese crew onboard. The vessel has not reported any crew casualties. China is deeply concerned that a large number of vessels along with their crew have been caught in the conflict and stranded in the strait," read the statement.

“We believe it is in the common interest of regional countries and the international community to resume unimpeded passage through the strait and ensure the safety of civilian vessels and crew members. We call for concrete steps from relevant parties to prevent the deterioration of the situation," it added.

As per reports, the damaged vessel was believed to be the Marshall Islands-flagged oil products and chemical tanker JV Innovation, which reported a fire on deck to nearby ships on Monday. Notably, China has remained a major buyer of Iranian oil since the outbreak of the Iran war, with its imports from Iran largely unaffected in March.

US, Iran Exchange Fire

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has left hundreds of ships and around 20,000 seafarers stranded inside the Gulf, while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted by renewed attacks on vessels this week.

The United States and Iran exchanged fire again on Thursday, with an American fighter jet opening fire on two Iranian-flagged tankers that Washington accused of challenging its naval blockade of Iran’s ports. An Iranian military official told local media the country’s navy had “responded to the violation of the ceasefire and to American terrorism with strikes".

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was expecting Iran’s response to Washington’s latest proposal on a deal to extend a fragile truce and launch peace talks. He also warned of renewed strikes if Iran did not accept his terms.

Trump also said the US may reconsider a revised version of “Project Freedom", a brief maritime security initiative aimed at restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, depending on how the situation evolves.

(with inputs from agencies)

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