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China dispatched a warship to the Persian Gulf for a visit as tensions between Iran, Beijing's strategic partner, and the United States continue to grow over the nuclear program of Tehran.
The Chinese naval port call in the United Arab Emirates, a vital U.S. security partner, comes ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to the Gulf country next week, where the Middle East is his administration's focus on diplomacy and regional security cooperation.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment by email. The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Newsweek written request for further comment.
On March 11, 2025, the Chinese destroyer CNS "Baotou" sails during joint military drills between Iran, Russia, and China in the Gulf of Oman. Iranian Army office/AFP via Getty Images
Beijing and Tehran have formed what they called a "comprehensive strategic partnership" to promote cooperation in military and other fields. China, which is a key buyer of Iranian oil, was recently targeted by U.S. sanctions as its private refiner purchased crude oil from Iran.
While Trump halted the bombings in Yemen unexpectedly, he continues to threaten Iran with the use of force unless a nuclear deal is reached. The Pentagon has also increased its military deployment near Iran, including the presence of two aircraft-carrier strike groups.
A Chinese chamber of commerce based in the Gulf country claimed that the destroyer has what it called "powerful antiaircraft, anti-ship, and anti-submarine comprehensive combat capabilities," making the 7,000-ton warship an "all-around warrior guarding the sea frontier."
Meanwhile, the rest of the naval escort task force, the Honghe and Gaoyouhu, was spotted in the Arabian Sea on Sunday, said open-source intelligence researcher @MT_Anderson on X. They were operating less than 60 miles from the American aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
The Chinese naval port call in the United Arab Emirates, a vital U.S. security partner, comes ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to the Gulf country next week, where the Middle East is his administration's focus on diplomacy and regional security cooperation.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment by email. The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Newsweek written request for further comment.
On March 11, 2025, the Chinese destroyer CNS "Baotou" sails during joint military drills between Iran, Russia, and China in the Gulf of Oman. Iranian Army office/AFP via Getty Images
Why It Matters
China deployed the 47th naval escort task force, consisting of the destroyer CNS Baotou, the frigate CNS Honghe, and the supply ship CNS Gaoyouhu, to the Gulf of Aden in December last year. This came as the nearby Red Sea was attacked by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.Beijing and Tehran have formed what they called a "comprehensive strategic partnership" to promote cooperation in military and other fields. China, which is a key buyer of Iranian oil, was recently targeted by U.S. sanctions as its private refiner purchased crude oil from Iran.
While Trump halted the bombings in Yemen unexpectedly, he continues to threaten Iran with the use of force unless a nuclear deal is reached. The Pentagon has also increased its military deployment near Iran, including the presence of two aircraft-carrier strike groups.
What To Know
The Baotou, which is a Type 052DL destroyer, on Sunday arrived in Abu Dhabi for a five-day "replenishment and maintenance period" in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by the Chinese state-run newspaper China Daily.A Chinese chamber of commerce based in the Gulf country claimed that the destroyer has what it called "powerful antiaircraft, anti-ship, and anti-submarine comprehensive combat capabilities," making the 7,000-ton warship an "all-around warrior guarding the sea frontier."
Meanwhile, the rest of the naval escort task force, the Honghe and Gaoyouhu, was spotted in the Arabian Sea on Sunday, said open-source intelligence researcher @MT_Anderson on X. They were operating less than 60 miles from the American aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
