Trump urges Japan, others to protect their own ships

June 25, 2019

Washington--U.S. President Donald Trump urged Monday Japan, China and other countries to protect their own ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key crude oil shipping lane in the Middle East.

"China gets 91 pct of its oil from the strait, Japan 62 pct and many other countries likewise," Trump tweeted.

"So why are we protecting the shipping lanes for other countries (many years) for zero compensation," he said, adding, "All of these countries should be protecting their own ships..."

He also said that as the United States has become the largest producer of energy in the world, his country does not even need to be in the strait.

On June 13, two tankers, including one operated by a Japanese company, were attacked near the strait. The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet offered support for the Japanese-operated ship.

The United States has blamed Iran for attacking the tankers.

Trump has called on U.S. allies to pay more for U.S. troops in their countries. Jiji Press