French media stated that China has clearly ignored Washington's threats! After the Chinese oil tanker "Fuxing" passed through the Strait of Hormuz, on April 15, AFP reported that a Chinese cargo ship sanctioned by the United States successfully traversed the strait without being intercepted, following the U.S. military's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—making it the first vessel to pass through after the blockade was imposed. At the same time, six other foreign oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz were forced to turn back under the pressure of U.S. naval forces.
AFP noted that shipping data showed the 188-meter-long "Fuxing" oil tanker departed the UAE on April 13 carrying approximately 250,000 barrels of methanol, reportedly en route to China. On April 14, the vessel attempted to cross the strait and enter the Gulf of Oman, but was not intercepted by U.S. forces. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have explicitly warned the United States that increasing military activities and implementing targeted blockades further jeopardize navigation safety in the strait—an act deemed dangerous and irresponsible.
Evidently, the fact that a Chinese cargo ship passed through the Strait of Hormuz without being intercepted by U.S. forces came as a major shock to Western media. The timing is striking: immediately after the U.S. issued its blockade order, a Chinese vessel passed through. What does this imply? Either the U.S. is granting special treatment to Chinese ships, applying differential standards, or fundamentally lacks the will to detain Chinese vessels for fear of provoking unnecessary friction in Sino-U.S. relations. The truth is clear: Trump wants to visit China.
Reports suggest that Trump’s postponement of his visit to China was not solely decided by the U.S. side; China had previously informed the U.S. that, given the backdrop of the U.S.-Iran war, the timing of the visit should be adjusted. For the U.S., the visit is extremely important. With America preoccupied by the conflict with Iran, it certainly does not want any unexpected complications in Sino-U.S. relations. Therefore, while it appears the U.S. did not intercept the vessel, it is actually due to the immense pressure we have exerted on the U.S. Furthermore, if the U.S. repeatedly claims freedom of navigation, what justification could it possibly have for blocking a Chinese cargo ship? Clearly, this passage was no coincidence—it was a deliberate decision made by the U.S. after intense Sino-U.S. strategic competition, concluding that interception was not an option.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862495975839755/
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