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The Chinese government has said that resuming safe and free passage in the Strait of Hormuz at an early date serves the interests of all sides.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian stated this during a regular press conference in Beijing, China.
He was responding to a statement credited to one of the parties in the conflict, the Islamic Republic of Iran, which disclosed the indefinite closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following another wave of exchanges of strikes with the United States.
The closure is coming even as the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) said earlier that Iran will review requests for vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz once the situation in the region stabilises.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, however, said a proper settlement was needed to address issues concerning the passage.
Lin said, “The Strait of Hormuz is a strait for international navigation. Resuming safe and free passage in the Strait at an early date serves the interests of all sides. A proper settlement is needed to address issues concerning the passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”
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He further said the shared concerns in the international community needed a proper response.
“China stands ready to maintain communication on this with relevant countries and the international community,” Lin added.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson further commented on reports that emanated from the 137th session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, where representatives of the United States and Panama condemned China’s punishing measures against Panamanian-flagged vessels out of political reasons and called on the IMO to strengthen its framework for protection to prevent politicisation of maritime trade.
Responding, Lin said that statistics of the competent Chinese authorities since the beginning of this year showed that Panamanian-flagged vessels have registered multiple casualties meeting or exceeding the statutory accident classification threshold in Chinese waters more frequently than vessels of any other flag state.
He also said Panamanian-flagged vessels made up less than 20 percent of all foreign vessels calling at Chinese ports since January but have caused around 50 percent of the accidents and consequent deaths and missing persons.
“Port state control inspections, as an important measure to ensure maritime safety and prevent marine pollution, are port states’ principal regulatory instrument for the safety supervision of foreign-flagged vessels. To ensure the safety and order of maritime traffic, China lawfully and responsibly conducts port state control inspections as required by international regulations on visiting vessels. This is fully consistent with international conventions,” Lin stated.
