Ships in Gulf declare themselves Chinese to dodge Iran attack
Several ships traveling through the Gulf have started identifying themselves as Chinese-owned or carrying Chinese crews in an apparent effort to avoid potential attacks by Iran during the ongoing regional conflict.
According to a report by the Financial Times, at least 10 vessels over the past week altered their Automatic Identification System signals to display messages such as “Chinese Owner,” “All Chinese Crew,” or “Chinese Crew Onboard.”
The tactic was uncovered through analysis of shipping data from MarineTraffic, which monitors vessel movements worldwide.
Analysts believe some ships may be using this strategy because China maintains relatively stable relations with Iran, leading operators to hope the identification could reduce the risk of being targeted while passing through the Gulf during the conflict.
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