Strait of Hormuz Reopens for Trade as US-Iran Signals Offer Mixed Messages

 As Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz this week, the pragmatic approach Beijing has taken to the US-Israel war on Iran was on full display.

Speaking to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on the phone on Monday, Xi reiterated China’s support for “all efforts conducive to restoring peace and stands for resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means”.

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“The Strait of Hormuz should maintain normal passage, as this serves the common interests of regional countries and the international community,” Xi said, according to a Chinese readout of the call.

The readout did not specifically mention any of the key players in the war, although the United States and Iran have, between them, brought the strategic waterway to a standstill for the past seven weeks. Iran moved to close the strait to most marine traffic following the launch of the war on February 28, while the US launched a blockade of all Iranian ports on April 13.

Xi’s measured statements stood in sharp contrast to those of US President Donald Trump, who took to social media the same day to declare, “I’m winning a War, BY A LOT, things are going very well”, and that the naval blockade would continue until Washington reached a “DEAL” with Tehran.

It was also indicative, say analysts, of how China has used the US-Israel war on Iran to present itself as the more responsible of the world’s two superpowers, and one that often prefers to stay in the background rather than out front and centre. Post by aljazeera