I should maybe add that I don't think this is actually a good idea. I can just see that it's scientifically possible, and I enjoy constructing scenarios like this.
But to those who are riding Putin's dick, just know that these are the things the West could do, but chooses not to. And the fuck you to all buyers of Russian oil still stands. I don't care how poor they are.
Steal some of the oil. Replace it at correct stoichiometric ratio with ammonium nitrate or some other powerful oxidiser. Attach a detonator and tracking device to the ship. Don't tell the crew. Let the crew go free. When the ship reaches its destination, detonate. Halifax explosion, round two.
Fuck you, whoever would buy Russian oil.
IDK, Syria has been a huge setback for the CCP. Also, there is a growing wave of Chinese divestment among businesses everywhere, and the CCP is losing influence in Canada and Europe. There is a growing will to break their addiction to cheap Chinese manufacturing. Canada in particular hates the CCP, for the illegal police stations and for the kidnapping and ransom of the Michaels.
Surveys in most countries around the world rank the CCP pretty poorly in terms of public perception. (See for example https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/09/more-people-view-the-us-positively-than-china-across-35-surveyed-countries/ ) If this is the CCP winning, I do wonder what losing would look like.
The US and EU might buy a little, but most of it is being bought by China, India, and Africa at a steep discount. As I'm sure you know. Everybody buying Russian oil deserves scorn, even if they are living in the EU or the US.