I’m sharing a live shot I did Monday afternoon with NewsNation. I was asked about the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which began on Monday, and what China is doing in Iran according to U.S. intelligence.
On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping used unusually strong words to describe the state of the world with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who was visiting Beijing. “The international order is crumbling into disarray,” Xi said.
He also directly criticized the blockade, calling it “dangerous and irresponsible.” As much as Xi will talk about peace and stability, keep in mind:
As I previously reported, China shared targeting coordinates with Iran on U.S. troops and equipment, primarily geospatial intelligence from satellites, according to source familiar with the intelligence. (More on China’s support of Iran in that report.)
A few news outlets have now reported that China has or is preparing to send Iran new air defense systems called MANPADs, shoulder-fired anti-air missile systems.
Last week, at the UN Security Council, China and Russia vetoed a resolution to open the Strait of Hormuz through country cooperation.
Two Chinese oil tankers — Cospearl Lake and He Rong Hai — sailed across the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
Iran’s tolls of the strait reportedly required ships to pay fees in cryptocurrency or China’s currency, the yuan.
Recall that on March 14, President Donald Trump called on numerous countries to put warships in the Strait of Hormuz, including China. No denunciation when China declined. And last week, he credited China with helping to pressure Iran into a ceasefire.
Trump visits Beijing next month, and it is unclear whether he will bring up these very concerning developments behind closed doors.
