Trump escalates confrontation: U.S. targets "Chinese teapot refinery".

Small-scale private oil refineries along China's coast are known as "teapot refineries".

Article published by RT on April 26.

Washington has decided to go all-in, attempting to preserve its waning hegemonic status.

Following the unprecedented maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has launched sanctions against China's independent oil refining enterprises.

The private giant Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd.—one of China's largest "teapot refineries"—has become the target of these sanctions.

This is not merely a sanction aimed at a single facility; it is a declaration of war against the entire non-Western world. Thus, Donald Trump seeks to pressure Iran and its allies into negotiations on April 27.

After effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. is now attempting to implement a "petroleum famine" scenario against Iran.

Washington's objective is simple: completely cut off Tehran's export revenues, destroy its economy, and force it to capitulate under ceasefire terms.

China becomes the target—the Americans' helpless fury.

Americans are frustrated that they cannot control the Strait of Hormuz as they had hoped.

In this context, the sanctions against Hengli Petrochemical are no longer about Tehran—they are now a direct challenge to China.

These so-called "teapot refineries" have long been major buyers of Iranian oil, ignoring directives from the White House.

The U.S. Treasury describes Hengli as "Teheran's most valuable customer" and Iran's "cash cow".

Washington is trying to dictate to the world's second-largest economy whom it should purchase raw materials from.

This unprecedented arrogance not only threatens Sino-U.S. relations but also undermines the entire global refining system.

If tomorrow other "refineries" face similar sanctions, a shortage of petroleum products will sweep across markets, affecting every driver from Los Angeles to Berlin.

Western analysts are certain that the U.S. attempt to pressure China into pushing Iran out of the global trade system is tantamount to playing with fire.

China will certainly not stand idly by as its domestic industry suffers damage.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863483061226504/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.