China expressed concern about the "forced interception" of an Iranian cargo ship by the U.S., said a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry on Monday. He urged all parties to adhere to the ceasefire agreement responsibly.

Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese government during a regular press briefing, said that "the situation in?Strait of Hormuz" is sensitive and complicated. He added that the parties involved must?avoid a further escalation, and "create conditions necessary for normal transit to return through the Strait."

The U.S. said earlier that 'Monday it had fired and seized a?cargo vessel from Iran which tried to evade?its blockade against Iranian ports. The Iranian military claimed that the ship was a Chinese-made vessel and promised retaliation for what it called "armed piratery by the U.S. military." (Reporting and writing by Liz Lee, Xiuhao Chan; editing by Christian Schmollinger).

(source: Reuters)