Hormuz Chaos: Ships In Gulf Pose As Chinese Vessels To Dodge Iranian Attacks

Last Updated:March 08, 2026, 06:54 IST

Data shows that at least 10 ships, including tankers and container vessels, changed their AIS signals between March 1 and March 6, 2026 to dodge Iranian attack.

Ships passing through the Gulf have begun declaring themselves as Chinese-owned or Chinese-crewed in an attempt to avoid Iranian attacks during the ongoing war. At least 10 vessels over the past week altered their Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals to display messages such as “Chinese Owner", “All Chinese Crew" or “Chinese Crew Onboard", states a Financial Times report.

The tactic was reported after analysis of MarineTraffic data and was first highlighted by the Financial Times.

Among the vessels changing their signals was the ship “Iron Maiden". While passing through the Strait of Hormuz on March 4, it altered its destination signal to read “Chinese owner" as it moved through the area at full speed. Last week, Iran declared closure of Hormuz for all countries except China.

Data shows that at least 10 ships, including tankers and container vessels, changed their AIS signals between March 1 and March 6, 2026.

Large number of ships trapped

Around 1,000 ships with an estimated value of about 25 billion dollars remain trapped inside the Gulf. The disruption follows strikes by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps near Kuwait and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Crews are also using methods such as GPS spoofing and jamming as they attempt to move safely through the region.

Tactic linked to Iran-China ties

The strategy is based on the assumption that Iranian forces may avoid targeting ships linked to China. Iran and China share strong strategic relations, including a long-term partnership and major oil trade.

Because of these ties, crews hope vessels identified as Chinese will face a lower risk of attack compared with ships linked to Western or US-aligned countries.

Iran-China ties

China has come out in support of Iran in the war against the United States and Israel. Beijing has condemned the US-Israel strikes diplomatically but continues to prioritise energy security and Taiwan over direct involvement in the conflict, maintaining a risk-averse “concerned onlooker" stance.

As per reports, China has also been supplying intelligence to Iran during the conflict. The Iran war, which began on February 28, entered its ninth day today.

China has also provided indirect aid to Iran through pre-war supplies of drones (loitering munitions), HQ-9B surface-to-air missile systems, YLC-8B radars and CM-302 anti-ship missiles, along with cyber tools replacing Western software.

China also continues buying around 90% of Iran’s sanctioned oil, while a 25-year pact worth about $400 billion ensures a steady flow of discounted crude.

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