Right, so China-linked ships are now moving through the Strait of Hormuz after dealing with Iran, and Donald Trump’s whole control act has taken another punch to the face. He went to China talking about reopening the world’s most important oil lane, talking as though Washington and Beijing were going to put Iran back in its box, and then the ships that actually moved did not move because Trump pulled a King Canute and shouted at the sea. They moved after Tehran agreed to their passage under Iranian management rules. That is the bit that cuts through all the noise, because Trump can call it freedom of navigation, he can name another operation, he can stick a bit of bunting on a naval escort plan and call it strength if he likes, but cargo does not move through Hormuz because of a slogan. It moves when the people controlling the water allow it to m ...