China on Tuesday opposed malicious associations and hype about a US interception of a foreign-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Photo: CCTV

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular press briefing in Beijing after former US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley said in a post that the ship intercepted over the weekend had been traveling from China to Iran and was used to carry chemicals for missiles.

The vessel in question was a foreign container ship, Guo said.

"According to our understanding, this was a foreign-flagged container ship," Guo said. "China opposes any malicious associations and hype surrounding this issue."