The United States' military interdiction of the Strait of Hormuz has created a mounting geopolitical crisis with two of Asia's largest economies, as China and India—both heavily dependent on Gulf crude—face an energy squeeze that is straining their relationships with Washington in ways that could have lasting consequences for the global order.
China imports approximately 40% of its oil from the Persian Gulf, and India relies on the region for roughly 60% of its crude needs. Both nations have seen energy import costs surge since the blockade began, and neither has been willing to publicly endorse the U.S. military operation—creating an awkward diplomatic position for a White House that initially expected allied solidarity.
China's Dual Challenge
For Beijing, the Hormuz blockade is both an economic emergency and a strategic opportunity. On one hand, China is paying sharply higher prices for oil and faces the prospect of industrial slowdowns if supplies tighten further. On the other, the U.S. operation has accelerated Chinese efforts to develop alternative energy corridors, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and increased pipeline capacity from Russia and Central Asia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called the blockade 'an abuse of military power that violates international maritime law' in a statement to the UN Security Council, where Beijing and Moscow vetoed a Western-sponsored resolution endorsing the operation. China has also been quietly purchasing Iranian oil through intermediaries at steep discounts, defying U.S. secondary sanctions warnings.
India's Diplomatic Tightrope
India's position is even more delicate. New Delhi has deep defense and technology ties with Washington and has been positioning itself as a key partner in the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. But India also maintains a longstanding policy of strategic autonomy and has significant interests in maintaining access to Iranian oil, particularly the Chabahar port project that provides a crucial trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Prime Minister Modi has so far declined to explicitly endorse or condemn the U.S. operation, calling instead for 'all parties to respect international law and pursue peaceful resolution.' External Affairs Minister Jaishankar is shuttling between Washington, Muscat, and Tehran in an attempt to broker a framework that would allow India to maintain access to Gulf energy without triggering U.S. sanctions.