The world’s most important oil chokepoint has been quietly strangling global energy markets since February, and China’s top diplomat wants it open again, fast.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made that case explicitly on June 24, pressing for the rapid restoration of normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during a phone call with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
Why the Strait of Hormuz matters more than most people realize
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of global oil and LNG transportation. That pinch happened in earnest after US and Israeli strikes against Iran in late February 2026. Iran’s response included severe reductions in tanker traffic through the strait, disrupting supply chains that run from Gulf producers all the way to refineries across Asia and Europe.
As of late June, there are early signs of movement, literally. Three vessels carrying approximately 5 million barrels of crude oil have begun transiting the Gulf, a modest but meaningful signal that the complete blockage may be starting to ease.
