Chinese-Owned Tanker Attacked Near Strait of Hormuz

A Chinese-owned oil products tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, Chinese media outlet Caixin reported, marking the first known attack on a Chinese oil tanker since the Iran conflict began on 28 Feb 2026. A person with knowledge of the matter told Caixin about the incident on Thursday. The unnamed vessel, marked "CHINA OWNER & CREW," suffered a deck fire, and it was unclear whether any crew members were injured. Maritime security sources said the damaged ship was believed to be the Marshall Islands-flagged oil products and chemical tanker JV Innovation, which had reported a fire on its deck to nearby vessels. The incident occurred off the United Arab Emirates coast in the Gulf, close to Mina Saqr. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies, has been largely halted since the conflict began, leaving hundreds of ships and 20,000 seafarers trapped inside the Gulf. President Donald Trump announced a U.S. plan on Monday to assist stranded vessels but suspended it a day later after Iran launched drones and missiles at several ships and at neighbouring countries, particularly the UAE. China remains a major buyer of Iranian oil, which has been targeted by a U.S. blockade in the Gulf of Oman. China's foreign minister Wang Yi met Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Beijing a day earlier to discuss reopening the strait, while the U.S. and Iran were reported to be nearing a limited, temporary agreement to halt fighting.