US-China Agree to Oppose Tolls in Strait of Hormuz Ahead of Summit
The U.S. State Department announced that high-level U.S. and Chinese officials agreed that no country should be allowed to levy tolls on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This suggests a common stance to pressure Iran and prevent it from controlling the crucial waterway, ahead of the upcoming summit between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 10:24
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington, 12th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The U.S. State Department stated today that high-level U.S. and Chinese officials unanimously believe that no country should be allowed to charge tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Outsiders believe this represents a common position for the U.S. and China to pressure Iran, preventing it from controlling this critical waterway.
According to Reuters, the State Department made this statement as the summit between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled for later this week, and the management of the Strait of Hormuz will be on the agenda.
Since the joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, Iran has almost completely blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, causing tremors in the global energy market.
The State Department stated that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed this matter during a phone call in April.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said: "They agreed that no country or organization should be allowed to charge fees to ships passing through international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz." Previously, the State Department did not, as per usual practice, issue a written summary of this phone call.
The Chinese Embassy did not object to the U.S. statement and expressed hope that all parties would work together to restore normal shipping in the strait. Before the U.S.-Iran war, approximately one-fifth of the global oil and gas supply had to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., stated: "Ensuring regional security and stability, and unobstructed navigation, is in the common interest of the international community."
Tehran has made the right to collect shipping tolls a prerequisite for ending the war. Trump imposed a naval blockade on Iran and proposed the possibility of collecting tolls on passing ships himself or cooperating with Iran to collect them. However, after facing backlash domestically and internationally, the White House quickly stated that Trump hoped to see the Strait of Hormuz open to traffic without any restrictions.
Chinese officials have condemned the U.S. naval blockade but have so far avoided direct mention of tolls.
Two informed sources revealed that Rubio told Wang Yi that Chinese vessels might also have to pay tolls in the future, seemingly urging Beijing to exert greater pressure on Tehran to end the conflict.
China maintains ties with Iran and is a major buyer of Iranian oil exports. Trump has relied on China, hoping Beijing would use its influence to push Iran to reach an agreement with the U.S.
In a subsequent meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Wang Yi stated that the international community has "common concerns about restoring normal and safe passage in the strait," while reiterating China's support for Iran "to safeguard national sovereignty and security."
Last month, China vetoed a U.S. draft resolution at the United Nations that encouraged countries to jointly protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. China believed this move was biased against Iran, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz criticized Beijing for allowing Iran to hold the global economy hostage. (Compiler: Qu Xiang-ping) 1150513
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(Central News Agency, Washington, 12th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The U.S. State Department stated today that high-level U.S. and Chinese officials unanimously believe that no country should be allowed to charge tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Outsiders believe this represents a common position for the U.S. and China to pressure Iran, preventing it from controlling this critical waterway.
According to Reuters, the State Department made this statement as the summit between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled for later this week, and the management of the Strait of Hormuz will be on the agenda.
Since the joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, Iran has almost completely blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, causing tremors in the global energy market.
The State Department stated that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed this matter during a phone call in April.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said: "They agreed that no country or organization should be allowed to charge fees to ships passing through international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz." Previously, the State Department did not, as per usual practice, issue a written summary of this phone call.
The Chinese Embassy did not object to the U.S. statement and expressed hope that all parties would work together to restore normal shipping in the strait. Before the U.S.-Iran war, approximately one-fifth of the global oil and gas supply had to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., stated: "Ensuring regional security and stability, and unobstructed navigation, is in the common interest of the international community."
Tehran has made the right to collect shipping tolls a prerequisite for ending the war. Trump imposed a naval blockade on Iran and proposed the possibility of collecting tolls on passing ships himself or cooperating with Iran to collect them. However, after facing backlash domestically and internationally, the White House quickly stated that Trump hoped to see the Strait of Hormuz open to traffic without any restrictions.
Chinese officials have condemned the U.S. naval blockade but have so far avoided direct mention of tolls.
Two informed sources revealed that Rubio told Wang Yi that Chinese vessels might also have to pay tolls in the future, seemingly urging Beijing to exert greater pressure on Tehran to end the conflict.
China maintains ties with Iran and is a major buyer of Iranian oil exports. Trump has relied on China, hoping Beijing would use its influence to push Iran to reach an agreement with the U.S.
In a subsequent meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Wang Yi stated that the international community has "common concerns about restoring normal and safe passage in the strait," while reiterating China's support for Iran "to safeguard national sovereignty and security."
Last month, China vetoed a U.S. draft resolution at the United Nations that encouraged countries to jointly protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. China believed this move was biased against Iran, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz criticized Beijing for allowing Iran to hold the global economy hostage. (Compiler: Qu Xiang-ping) 1150513
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.