China will likely have to adopt a more hands-on role in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, France’s navy chief said on Wednesday, arguing that the existing level of Chinese vessel traffic through the waterway is not enough to restore normal shipping flows.
Speaking at the War & Peace security conference in Paris, Admiral Nicolas Vaujour said Beijing has not used its navy to help reopen the strait. Instead, Vaujour said, Chinese authorities have pursued direct political dialogue with Iran to permit a limited number of vessels to transit the passage.
"Will that be enough to restore normal traffic flows? I don’t believe so," Vaujour said. "As a result, China will probably have to engage more directly in the debate and show its impatience with the fact that the strait remains closed."
Vaujour described French efforts to convene a group of countries at the political level to agree on the conditions needed for a lasting reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He said these political discussions are being organized to determine what will be required to re-establish steady maritime traffic.
On the operational side, the French navy chief indicated that military forces would ultimately be required to monitor the process of reopening the strait. He framed this as a necessary accompaniment to political agreements, rather than a replacement for diplomatic work.
Addressing concerns about potential maritime hazards, Vaujour said there is no evidence at this stage that the Strait of Hormuz has been mined. That assessment was presented as the current status of available information, without further detail on ongoing surveillance or verification activities.
Vaujour’s remarks underscore a dual-track approach being pursued by France: coordinating international political efforts while acknowledging that military presence will play a role in overseeing any reopening. The admiral’s comments also place a spotlight on China’s next steps, suggesting that French officials expect Beijing to move beyond political engagement if normal traffic is to resume.
Summary
France’s navy chief said China must take a more direct role in reopening the Strait of Hormuz because the current number of Chinese vessels passing through the waterway is inadequate. Beijing has so far engaged Iran through political talks to permit a limited set of transits, but Vaujour expressed doubt that this will be sufficient. France is bringing countries together politically to set conditions for a durable reopening, and military forces will be needed to monitor the process. There is no evidence at this stage that the strait has been mined.