Recently, the general manager of China COSCO Shipping acknowledged that eight of the company’s vessels are trapped in the Persian Gulf, prompting widespread online skepticism: “Weren’t Chinese cargo ships supposed to be allowed through?” Some Chinese crew members also reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard had warned no ships could pass. Their firsthand accounts have exposed the CCP’s attempts to mislead the Chinese public.
Eight COSCO ships trapped in the Persian Gulf
On March 21, 2026, Zhu Maijin, general manager of China COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation Co., Ltd., told the CCP state media outlet Yicai that eight of the company’s ships had been trapped in the Persian Gulf for 19 days. He said, “During this blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, we have eight ships stuck inside,” while boasting that supplies on board were “sufficient.” Implicitly, this suggested that other Chinese ships might not have enough supplies.
Netizens mocked on social media: “Weren’t Chinese cargo ships supposed to be allowed through?” “Even with Wu Jing’s flag, you can’t pass?” “The lies of the evil Communist Party have been exposed—they had been telling the public that only Chinese ships could pass, so why the sudden change?” Others suggested reasons: “Because the arms China sold to Iran are just toys.” Another key point noted: “The problem is the cargo cannot be delivered at all. The losses for shipowners and buyers are huge.”
On Feb. 28, 2026, after the US-Israel joint airstrikes on Iran, Iran forcibly blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Only a few Chinese-flagged ships were able to pass, while most Chinese ships remain in the Persian Gulf, too cautious to risk the passage.
On March 19, 2026, a Douyin account on mainland China posted a video about a Chinese ship stranded in the Persian Gulf, which received a warning from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard: “All ships, regardless of nationality or name, are prohibited from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. If you do not comply, you will be held responsible for hatred against our country.”
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The account’s IP location showed “Qatar,” leading to speculation that it might belong to a Chinese crew member trapped in the Persian Gulf.
The crew member also posted that as of March 19, the Strait of Hormuz was still blocked. He said his recent three videos had failed Douyin’s review, so he simply posted a brief update. His ship is anchored 25 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, surrounded by roughly 200 other anchored ships, about half tankers and half LNG carriers. He said almost none of the ships were moving and there seemed no hope of the Strait being reopened.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities were manipulating social media to create a false impression that “Chinese ships can pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Many Chinese netizens misled by CCP propaganda commented: “This is different from domestic reports!” “Weren’t Chinese ships allowed through?” “Do they even have the national flag up?”
Notably, this Douyin account has been active recently. On March 11, the account posted a video about a Chinese cargo ship that had run out of supplies and tried to risk the strait. The ship’s captain was shown asking colleagues via remote call: “Is it safer to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during the day or at night?”
Iranian drones damage Chinese ships
At 5:40 a.m. on March 12, a Chinese container ship near the Strait of Hormuz caught fire from an explosion. The Douyin account also posted a remote call recording from the ship.
According to the crew, the ship was targeted by Iranian drones. They considered abandoning it, but the Iranian coast guard sent only a small boat with fewer than ten personnel, which departed after a brief inspection. The crew reported that the Chinese company was coordinating rescue ships. The drones hit the ship’s engine room, but fortunately, no one was injured. Damage reached 3–5 meters above the waterline, destroying the main cables and leaving only the emergency generator operational. Both the main and auxiliary engines were inoperable, the anchor could not be lifted, and spare parts were not immediately available.
Other crew members advised that if the situation seemed dangerous, they must abandon ship rather than wait for rescue—revealing the true anxiety and distrust Chinese sailors have toward the CCP’s “wolf warrior” propaganda abroad.
By Li Deyan
