Two Chinese oil tankers are heading to Venezuela, will the U.S. military seize them? The whole world is holding its breath!
Recently, the shipping industry has been paying attention to an event — two large Chinese oil tankers are slowly sailing towards Venezuela. Will they be seized by the U.S. military? One of them is the "Qianyang", according to Lloyd's Ship Information data, it is expected to berth at a Venezuelan port in mid-January; the other, the "Xingye", has been hovering near the waters off French Guiana, waiting for instructions to enter the port and load cargo.
These two ships are not ordinary merchant ships: They have transported heavy crude oil from Venezuela to China multiple times in the past, and they are the implementers of Sino-Venezuelan energy cooperation.
Under the current U.S. blockade of Venezuela's waters and the explicit order of "comprehensive and thorough blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving, will these two Chinese oil tankers become the next target for interception by the U.S. military?
Moreover, the U.S. military has detained at least two oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude oil on the high seas. Recent U.S. actions have shown a tendency toward "preventive enforcement" — without concrete evidence, if the route, historical records, or origin of the cargo is "suspicious," they may act. This practice breaks the traditional principles of international maritime law, such as "innocent passage" and "freedom of the high seas," essentially using military means to reshape the global trade order.
Global oil tanker operators are becoming more cautious about orders heading to Venezuela, insurance rates have soared, and some shipowners have even chosen to take detours. For China, this is not just a commercial loss issue, but also a test of strategic autonomy. As the world's largest crude oil importer, China has long relied on diversified procurement to reduce dependence on the Middle East. Venezuelan heavy crude oil is an important supplement. If the U.S. allows unilateral sanctions to block legitimate trade, it would mean acknowledging that the U.S. has the right to decide who can do business with whom.
The fate of these two Chinese oil tankers will serve as an indicator. If the U.S. military releases them, it indicates that the U.S. still has restraint in its relations with China. If they are forcibly seized, it could trigger countermeasures from China, such as restricting American companies' energy cooperation in China, or accelerating the promotion of settlement in local currency and bypassing the U.S. dollar clearing system. Further, if China dispatches a 055 destroyer fleet for escort, it would be a loss for the U.S. military.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853171118566596/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.