China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed President Trump's suggestion that the seized Iranian ship was a 'gift from China' and opposed unfounded accusations.
The U.S. seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska, alleging it carried dual-use items from China, while Iran condemned the action as 'armed piracy' and vowed retaliation.
China emphasized that normal international trade should not be disrupted by such accusations, as tensions rise over U.S. enforcement of a blockade on Iranian ports.
Is the US blockade on Iran a strategic gambit to pressure China into negotiations?
With Iran retaliating, what is the next move in this high-stakes military standoff at sea?
How will China act to protect its vital energy supplies now threatened by the US blockade?
What precedent does seizing the Touska set for international shipping and 'dual-use' cargo?
Can the U.S. naval blockade be effective if dozens of ships have already slipped through?
How will the world cope with the largest oil supply disruption from the Strait of Hormuz closure?