Tanzania, April 13 -- China has called for uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the need to keep the vital global shipping route open following a blockade threat by Donald Trump.

Speaking in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said maintaining the security and stability of the strait was in the shared interest of the international community.

"The Strait of Hormuz is an important international trade route for goods and energy, and maintaining its security, stability and unimpeded flow is in the common interest of the international community," he said.

China's remarks came a day after Trump warned that the United States could impose a naval blockade on the strategic waterway, escalating tensions in ...