‘China opposes baseless accusations!’ – Beijing rejects Trump’s ‘secret cargo’ claim over seized vessel carrying ‘gift for Iranians’

China Rejects US Allegations on Seized Vessel

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Friday rejected US claims that a seized Iranian-flagged container ship may have been carrying Chinese items.

“China opposes any accusations lacking a factual basis, and normal international trade between related countries should not be interfered with or disrupted,” Jiakun said.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the vessel, seized earlier this week, may have been carrying a ‘gift for the Iranians’, but declined to provide details, calling the contents ‘top secret’.

Dispute Over AI Intellectual Property Claims

Jiakun also addressed US accusations that Chinese entities are carrying out ‘industrial-scale’ theft of American AI intellectual property through so-called ‘distillation’ methods.

“The US claims are baseless and a slanderous smear against China’s achievements in the development of its artificial intelligence industry. China firmly opposes this. We urge the US to respect the facts, abandon its prejudices, stop its technological suppression of China, and do more to promote technological exchanges and cooperation between the two countries,” he said.

Escalation of Tech and Trade Tensions

It marks the first time Washington has formally described AI model querying as a form of large-scale theft, shifting the dispute beyond hardware into software and algorithms.

Ongoing Conflict Around Strait of Hormuz

It comes after a temporary ceasefire agreed on April 8, followed by weeks of fighting involving the US, Israel and Iran, centred on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries around 20 per cent of global oil supplies. Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iran on April 13, leading to multiple ship seizures and retaliatory actions by Tehran.

Despite the truce, both sides have accused each other of violations. Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said reopening the strait was ‘impossible’ due to what he described as ‘flagrant’ US and Israeli breaches.

Article by Viory