The Chinese authorities have confirmed this Friday that there has been an attack against a Marshall Islands oil tanker and Chinese crew in the Strait of Hormuz, a situation that has caused “serious concern” in Beijing, which has for the moment ruled out the presence of victims on board the ship.
The spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, indicated in a press conference that the attack occurred on Monday near the strait, an area “used for international navigation.” “China is very concerned about the large number of ships and crews that have been affected by the conflict and are stranded in the area,” he said.
“We believe that restoring transit through the strait as soon as possible and safeguarding the safety of civilian ships and their crews is in the interests of all countries in the region and the international community,” he said, according to a statement.
That is why he has urged “all parties to take practical measures to prevent the situation from worsening in the region.” “We are willing to work with the international community to continue making efforts to achieve a ceasefire and peace talks that will resolve the situation,” he clarified.