China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun said Beijing is committed to maintaining global peace and stability and is closely watching developments in the Middle East. He confirmed that Chinese vessels continue to operate in the Strait of Hormuz and stressed Beijing’s economic ties with Iran.
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“Our ships are moving in and out of the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. We have trade & energy agreements with Iran. We will respect & honour them and expect others not to meddle in our affairs,” he said. “Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, and it is open for us.”
The statement came after the United States Central Command announced that it will begin enforcing a blockade on all maritime traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports from 10 a.m. ET on April 13 (7:30 p.m. IST). The move follows a presidential order.
According to CENTCOM, the blockade will apply to vessels of all countries operating in Iranian ports and coastal areas, including those in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. However, US forces will allow free navigation for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz if they are travelling to or from non-Iranian ports.
The US military said it will issue further guidance to commercial shipping through formal notices. Mariners have been advised to monitor official broadcasts and maintain communication with US naval forces while operating in the region. The blockade comes after ceasefire discussions between the US and Iran failed in Pakistan. Initial shipping data suggests reduced vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz compared to earlier levels.
The situation could impact global energy markets. China remains the largest buyer of Iranian oil, and any disruption in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz may affect both Iran’s export revenues and China’s energy supplies.
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China rejects US claims on arms supply to Iran
China on Monday rejected reports that it had supplied or planned to supply weapons to Iran, calling the claims “baseless smears” after several media outlets cited US intelligence sources.
The response came after US President Donald Trump warned Beijing of a “staggering” 50 percent tariff if it provided military assistance to Tehran. His remarks followed a CNN report citing US intelligence assessments that China was preparing to send air defence systems to Iran in the coming weeks.
Separately, The New York Times reported that US officials believed China may have already delivered shoulder-fired missiles to Iran.
China denied the allegations and said it follows strict rules on military exports. “We oppose baseless smears or malicious association,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
Beijing said it maintains a cautious and responsible approach to arms exports, in line with its laws and international obligations.
China remains a major economic partner of Iran and purchases a significant share of its oil. However, the two countries do not have a formal military alliance, and analysts often describe their ties as transactional.
China also maintains strong economic relations with Gulf countries and has criticised Iran’s attacks on them during the conflict.
