The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping lane between the Strait of Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Iran has blockaded the Strait for over a week and a half, and China, the world's second-largest importer of Iranian oil, has been caught in the crosshairs of the U.S. naval blockade.
00:00:25.000So China's got great relationships with Iran.0.79
00:00:27.920You know, they should be able to go through.0.98
00:00:29.340But wait a minute. They're now not. What happened there?
00:00:33.320A sanctioned Chinese oil tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz, then was forced to double back and return to Iran after President Trump blockaded the vital shipping lane.
00:00:41.760According to ship tracking data, a boarded voyage of the rich Stary, a Malawi flag Chinese owned tanker that was blacklisted by the U.S. in 2023,
00:00:51.940shows how the U.S. Navy successfully blocked the flow of ships carrying Iranian oil.
00:00:57.060Since the war began, most vessels have had traveled out of the Strait of Hormuz, have been loaded with Iranian exports.
00:01:03.020Given the cash-strapped regime vital funds, so far the U.S. blockade on the eastern side of the Strait of the Gulf of Oman
00:01:09.320has stopped at least five ships from heading out into the oceans.
00:01:13.640According to the trade analysis from Kepler, Iran has stifled nearly all traffic through Hormuz,
00:01:21.180which previously carried 20% of the world's oil by threatening to attack tankers if they don't pay the ransom.
00:01:27.040Iran, the rich Asteri, which was previously accused of helping Tehran skirt oil sanctions,
00:01:32.380has massed its location in the Persian Gulf for more than 10 days before attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
00:01:38.780The tanker owned by Shanghai's Zheon Run shipping company was loaded with 250,000 barrels of methanol,
00:01:44.320initially appeared to make it through the blockade,
00:01:47.280but updated tracking data revealed the ship stopped in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday.
00:01:51.480Tom, what does this U-turn mean about the power U.S. has that even China is now listening?
00:01:55.660Well, it means that it is not – to say that we are controlling the strait right now is absolutely true.
00:02:02.780And you also notice, and Rob, if you could put that map back up, we showed the map the other day, the one you just had, just right there, right there, right there.
00:02:10.860You see how they're going on the northern route, Pat?
00:03:37.000While that's going on, they did say that China slammed U.S. military blockade of Strait of Hormuz as a dangerous and irresponsible move.
00:03:45.060Rob, I think you've got a clip on this one if you want to go through it.
00:03:47.540I think dangerous and irresponsible would be if they kept sailing.0.84
00:03:50.700Well, but what this officially, this move here officially showed that China is more afraid of America than Iran, and they're now listening.0.78
00:03:59.120This is a very, very important situation here. Go ahead, Rob. Play the clip.
00:04:04.680Regarding the second question, I have already stated China's position.
00:04:08.960As for the third question you raised, China has always maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports.
00:04:16.000we exercise strict control based on our export laws and international obligations we oppose
00:04:23.280groundless smears or malicious associations did he just say anything what did he just say rob i
00:04:32.100don't even know i don't trust him because he has an english accent yeah he's the foreign
00:04:35.040china but what did he really say what was his message i'm not sure what did he say rob we've