Marco Rubio says US sees no evidence of Chinese military support for Iran

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States has found no evidence that China has provided military assistance to Iran during the ongoing regional conflict while urging Beijing to support international efforts aimed at ensuring the free flow of maritime traffic through the Strait of HormuzRubio made the remarks during a hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee where lawmakers questioned him about Chinas ties with Iran and whether Beijing had played any role during recent hostilitiesNo signs of direct Chinese supportAddressing concerns over Chinas relationship with Tehran Rubio said Washington had not observed any actions by Beijing that had hindered US military operations or altered the course of the conflictChina has not provided any assistance to Iran in any way that impeded our operations or ability to operate Rubio told lawmakersHe acknowledged that Iran possesses military equipment of Chinese origin and maintains longstanding diplomatic and economic ties with Beijing However Rubio stressed that there was no indication that China had recently provided support that changed the battlefield situationWe have seen no signs in the short term that anything theyve been providing has in any way changed the dynamic on the battlefield he saidBeijing taking a cautious approachRubio suggested that China has deliberately avoided becoming directly involved in the conflict despite its broader strategic partnership with IranI think theyve been quite cautious about engaging themselves in it he saidHis comments indicate that the US believes Beijing is attempting to balance its relationship with Tehran while avoiding actions that could further escalate tensions in the regionCall for support on Strait of Hormuz resolutionWhile ruling out direct Chinese involvement in the conflict Rubio urged Beijing to play a more constructive role at the United Nations regarding disruptions to shipping through the Strait of HormuzThe strategic waterway is one of the worlds most important energy transit routes carrying a significant share of global oil exportsRubio said the US is supporting a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at addressing threats to maritime navigation in the regionIf they are against the closure of the strait they should be endorsing this or at a minimum abstaining and not using a veto he saidEconomic risks for ChinaThe Secretary argued that China has strong economic reasons to support efforts to maintain stability in the Gulf regionAccording to Rubio prolonged disruptions to shipping routes could eventually affect Chinas economy due to its dependence on international trade and imported energy suppliesAs time goes on the Chinese economy will begin to be negatively impacted by what the Iranians are doing he saidRubio noted that rising fuel costs and disruptions in global trade could weaken consumer demand in export markets ultimately affecting Chinese exportsFor an exportdriven economy like China reduced purchasing power caused by higher energy costs will begin to have an impact on exports as well he addedImplications for global energy marketsRubio also revealed that a vessel heading to China had recently been struck during the crisis highlighting the growing risks facing commercial shipping in the regionHis remarks provide insight into Washingtons current assessment of Chinas role in one of the worlds most closely watched geopolitical flashpointsThe situation remains significant for major Asian economies including India and China which rely heavily on energy imports transported through the Gulf Any prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could lead to higher crude oil prices increased shipping costs and broader supply chain challenges across the regionWith inputs from IANS