Are things not going well between Russia and China? The Chinese government has decided to stop a Russian oil tanker at sea.

According to reports, the eight oil tankers affected by the embargo each have a capacity of 2 million barrels, meaning a total of 16 million barrels of crude oil shipments have been stranded at sea by China.

The close friendship between Russia and China has long been evident. Ties between these two world powers have been strong since the 1950s. Even when Russia launched an attack on Ukraine nearly three years ago, China refrained from criticizing Russia. Reports suggested that China was supplying Russia with large-scale weapons during the Ukraine war. Additionally, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow despite Western sanctions.

But recent developments have dealt a major blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Authorities at China’s largest port have banned eight Russian oil tankers from entering the port, citing U.S. sanctions. East China’s Shandong Port Group imposed the restrictions on Russian oil tankers, Reuters reported, citing three trade sources. The region is home to several refineries that are major importers of foreign oil.

China, the world’s largest oil importer, has been the biggest buyer of Russian crude since February 2022 as Western countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia. Nevertheless, Chinese port authorities have prevented Russian vessels from unloading or docking. This restriction is not limited to Shandong Port, but also applies to nearby ports such as Rizhao, Yantai and Qingdao operated by the Shandong Port Group. According to reports, the eight oil tankers affected by the embargo each have a capacity of 2 million barrels, meaning a total of 16 million barrels of crude oil shipments have been stranded at sea by China.

The United States calls the fleet that violates sanctions the “shadow fleet.” Just last month, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on 35 companies connected to shipments to Iran. China is the largest importer of oil from Iran and receives 90% of Iran’s oil exports, with Iran receiving goods instead of cash in return.

When asked about sanctions against the Russian fleet, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied knowing anything about the ban. Donald Trump is set to take office as president on January 20, and it is believed that China’s recent actions may be related to the political transition in the United States. Trump has already announced plans to impose heavy tariffs on China.

Also read: