China warns Red Sea situation becoming unstable

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Thu, 22-02-2024 04:14 PM, Aden

Aden (South24)

Today, the Chargé d ‘Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Yemen, Shao Zheng, warned that the situation in the Red Sea may get out of control, underscoring the profound importance that his country attaches to the issue.

Zheng’s disclosure came during a press conference organized by the Chinese Embassy today in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as reported by the Yemeni news agency, Saba.

Saba quoted Zheng as saying: “The continuation of the conflict in the Red Sea may get out of control. All parties must maintain the common security of the Red Sea and respect the sovereignty of the countries bordering it.”

The Chinese official stressed the importance of the Red Sea to Beijing, adding “[China] is the largest trading country in terms of goods, and the largest trading partner for more than 140 countries in the world. The Red Sea is a corridor for Chinese products to cross to Europe, Africa and Asia."

Zheng elaborated on how China was being affected by the Red Sea situation, citing a rise in insurance prices for maritime transport and ships, and the need for Chinese ships to reroute through South Africa, which is raising costs and prolonging the distance and time of their arrival.

As per Saba’s report, Zheng affirmed China's support for the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, while also renewing calls for a larger international effort to end Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and adopt a two-state solution.

Since the start of the crisis in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, China has maintained a position of condemnation of Houthi attacks against civilian commercial ships but strongly opposed US and US strikes on the militant group.

On January 30, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said: “The Red Sea is an important international trade route for goods and energy. We call for an end to harassment and attacks on civilian ships and an end to tensions.”

Related: China calls for end to Red Sea civilian ship attacks

The Chinese official supported the Houthis' narrative that their attacks were linked to the war on Gaza, saying that what is happening in Gaza is the root cause of the unrest in the Red Sea.

Today, the US Central Command announced that it had conducted four strikes yesterday against seven Houthi mobile anti-ship cruise missiles and one mobile anti-ship ballistic missile launcher that were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea, and shot down a one-way attack drone (UAS) within the same timeframe.

Today, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident 70 nautical miles southeast of Aden, in which a two-missile attack caused a fire onboard a ship. It said American-British coalition forces were responding to the attack.

British maritime security firm Ambrey also reported a fire breaking out on a British ship after a missile strike targeted it in the Gulf of Aden.

Today, The STC Presidency in their regularly held meeting warned that the Houthis would continue to target ships transporting relief aid to the ports of South.

A statement issued during the meeting said: "We condemn the terrorist targeting carried out by the Houthis against the British ship Sea Champion, which was on its way to the port of Aden, carrying thousands of tons of humanitarian aid."

"The Houthi attacks on ships transporting humanitarian relief and transporting goods coming to the ports of Aden will have catastrophic consequences that will exacerbate the repercussions of the humanitarian crisis that our people are experiencing," the statement added.

The STC called for international and regional action to repel the Houthis and stop their aggression.

The Chargé d ‘Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Yemen, Shao Zheng, during the press conference (Saba agency)

China warns Red Sea situation becoming unstable