US EditionShips Brandish China-Links to Weave Through Strait of Hormuz
Around 30 ships altered vessel tracking to claim Chinese ownership or crews, aiming to reduce risk amid Iranian threats, according to trade risk analyst Ana Subasic.
- Claiming Chinese links, vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz altered their transponder data, AFP analysis found ships in the Gulf changing AIS to claim China links.
- Since February 28, Iran's security chief Ali Larijani warned the waterway is unsafe while US-Israeli strikes have effectively closed it, with at least 10 vessels attacked.
- Ana Subasic of Kpler described vessels claiming Chinese links or changing destinations to 'CHINA OWNER' as precautionary signals, with around 30 ships involved, including nine oil tankers and two LNG tankers.
- On March 9, AFP analysis found ships in the Strait of Hormuz changing AIS to claim China links, while oil prices surged past US$100 a barrel. Emmanuel Macron said France and its allies will prepare a 'purely defensive' escort mission.
- The Strait of Hormuz handles a quarter of seaborne oil and a fifth of global LNG with a pre-war daily average of 138 transits, so Iran could raise insurance and energy costs to pressure the US and Gulf allies, Ali Vaez warned.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Iran war: Ships brandish China-links to weave through Strait of Hormuz
Ships anchored in the Gulf or transiting the Strait of Hormuz are changing their tracking data to boast links to China in an attempt to evade Iranian attacks, according to data from shipping tracker Marine Traffic analysed by AFP. A page on the Marinetraffic website shows commercial boat traffic on the edge of the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coast on March 4, 2026. Photo: Julien De Rosa/AFP. Iran has effectively closed the vital waterway s…
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Ships brandish China-links to weave through Strait of Hormuz
Ships anchored in the Gulf or transiting the Strait of Hormuz are changing their tracking data to boast links to China in an attempt to evade Iranian attacks, according to data from shipping tracker Marine Traffic analysed by AFP.
Many ships anchored in the Persian Gulf or transiting the Strait of Hormuz are altering their tracking data to show a connection to China in order to avoid Iranian attacks, according to AFP on March 10.
Ships brandish China-links to weave through Strait of Hormuz; France, allies preparing bid to 'gradually' reopen chokepoint
Paris, France (AFP) Mar 9, 2026 Ships anchored in the Gulf or transiting the Strait of Hormuz are changing their tracking data to boast links to China in an attempt to evade Iranian attacks, according to data from shipping tracker Marine Traffic analysed by AFP. Iran has effectively closed the vital waterway since US-Israeli strikes on it began on February 28, and at least 10 vessels have been attacked since. But by
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