While the Trump-Xi Jinping meeting was underway, Iran seized a Chinese ship.

New Delhi: A high-profile meeting was underway in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and tensions in West Asia were high on the agenda for both leaders. However, an incident occurred that captured everyone’s attention.

Iran seized a ship belonging to a Chinese security company near the Strait of Hormuz. The ship belonged to the Hong Kong-registered company Sinoguards Marine Security and was named Hui Chuan. The ship was operating under the Honduran flag.

According to the company, Iranian authorities stopped the ship on Thursday and took it to Iranian waters under the pretext of “documentation and compliance inspection.” The ship was reportedly anchored approximately 38 nautical miles off the coast of Fujairah, UAE.

Chinese Ship Intercepted for the First Time
This incident is considered significant because it marks the first time a private security vessel has been intercepted in this manner since the US-Iran war began. It is believed that Iran wants to send a message that it will not tolerate any armed security activity around the Strait of Hormuz, even by a company affiliated with its close partner, China.

Although the Sinogards company did not clarify whether the vessel was being used as a “floating armory,” i.e., a platform for storing weapons at sea, private security companies in this region often store weapons at sea to protect ships.

China, Iran’s Economic Partner
This entire incident has also raised questions about the relationship between China and Iran. China has long been a major economic and diplomatic ally of Iran. However, the interception of the Chinese vessel amid the Trump-Xi Jinping meeting is being seen by many as a strong message from Tehran that it is not in a mood to make concessions on security and the Strait of Hormuz.