China Launches Diplomatic Blitz on Hormuz Closures

Beijing is sending diplomats to seven countries within a month, from Iran and Oman to Egypt and Eritrea, according to China's Foreign Ministry. Bloomberg says Xi offered to help seek safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Generous, coming from a country that never met a crisis it didn't want to photograph. Breitbart ties the push to Oman's sultan visiting China for the first time, hosted by Xi. Wang Yi says dialogue is the only viable path forward. Fine. Dialogue is cheap; ask anyone who's waited on a plumber. Meanwhile Iran will reopen the strait if Washington lifts sanctions and releases frozen assets, which isn't a negotiating position so much as a ransom note on letterhead. Strip the spin off and here's what's left: a lot of travel plans, a lot of podium time, a tug reportedly hit and partially sinking in the strait, and the waterway still not moving. Grade that test honestly and it's a lot of words with no answer. See me after class.

“dialogue and negotiation remain the only viable path forward”Wang Yi, via Breitbart

“at some point we're going to have to give them the hammer”Donald Trump, via ZeroHedge