The fragile calm in the Strait of Hormuz was shattered when a Chinese oil tanker came under attack, the first such strike on a Beijing-flagged vessel since the waterway's closure in late February.

China's Caixin Global reported the incident on Thursday, marking a turning point in a crisis that has already crippled global shipping.

The assault comes amid a surge of attacks on merchant ships of multiple nationalities, allegedly carried out by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Once considered safe, Chinese vessels now appear vulnerable, despite earlier reports that Tehran would allow them passage due to Beijing's supportive stance.

The Chinese tanker attack follows two other high-profile incidents, French shipping giant CMA CGM's San Antonio was hit Tuesday, injuring crew members, while South Korea's HMM Namu suffered a blast and fire Monday.

The strait has remained blocked since February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched airstrikes against Iran. Before the conflict, it carried nearly a quarter of the world's seaborne oil and 20% of LNG. Today, about 1,600 ships remain stranded, including dozens of Chinese vessels. Beijing has much reliance on the route for 40% of its oil imports.