How Middle East Conflict Could Disrupt Chinas Oil Supply and Economy

ADTensions near the Strait of Hormuz threaten shipping routes vital to China’s oil imports, exposing risks to its economy and manufacturing sector.An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China, on Jan. 4, 2023. China Daily via Reuters3/7/2026|Updated: 3/7/2026News AnalysisU.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran have hit global energy markets, triggering disruptions in shipping and oil supply that could hit China especially hard as the world’s largest oil importer.Sean Tseng is a Canada-based writer for The Epoch Times focusing on Asia-Pacific news, Chinese business and economy, and U.S.–China relations. Author’s Selected Articles