China denies Trump claim that seized Iranian ship carried ‘gift from China’
Beijing rejected President Trump’s suggestion that the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA, seized by US forces in the Strait of Hormuz, may have carried a “gift from China.” A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman reiterated that China is “a responsible major country” and a “role model” in fulfilling international obligations.
China on Wednesday pushed back against claims by US President Donald Trump that the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel TOUSKA, intercepted by American forces over the weekend, might have been carrying what Trump called a “gift from China.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing: “China has made clear its position more than once. Let me reiterate that as a responsible major country, China has always been a role model in performing its due international obligations.” Trump made the comment on Tuesday, speculating about the nature of the ship’s cargo after US forces seized the vessel for refusing to comply with the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Seizure and blockade
US Central Command confirmed that the TOUSKA remains in American custody following the interception. The US imposed the blockade of the strategic waterway last week, after top officials from Washington and Tehran met in Islamabad for rare direct talks. The two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8 was set to expire Wednesday, but Trump unilaterally extended it without specifying a new timeframe. The US and Iran remain deadlocked on a final agreement to end the war that began on Feb. 28.
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