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Chinese Supertanker Retreats From US Hormuz Blockade

A Chinese-owned supertanker carrying Iraqi crude reversed course Sunday after approaching the US naval blockade at the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel returned to the Gulf of Oman instead of continuing through.

The vessel's aborted transit marked a rare test of American enforcement measures that have largely shuttered one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed to commercial traffic, with Iran-linked vessels dominating the minimal volume passing through.

The supertanker's retreat came as President Donald Trump prepared talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing. The administration announced plans Monday to begin guiding neutral vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf through the blockade, signaling a potential shift in how the US manages the contentious waterway amid broader geopolitical tensions.