China Calls Solutions To Red Sea Tensions By Ending Gaza Conflict

JAKARTA - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the solution to stopping tensions in the Red Sea could only be achieved by ending the conflict in Gaza.

"It should be emphasized that tensions in the Red Sea are the result of the Gaza conflict. The current priority is to end the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible in order to avoid further escalation and prevent the situation from getting out of control," Wang Wenbin said while delivering a statement to the media in Beijing, China., January 24.

The Houthi group in Yemen is targeting an attack on a commercial ship in the Red Sea that is suspected of having ties to Israel. Iran-backed Houthi groups said their attack was aimed at pressuring Tel Aviv to stop a deadly attack on the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 24 thousand Palestinians since October 7, 2023.

"We believe that the UN Security Council has never allowed the use of force by any country in Yemen. Sovereignty and integrity of Yemen and other coastal states of the Red Sea must be seriously respected," said Wang Wenbin.

This was conveyed in connection with airstrikes by the United States, Britain and its allies against Yemeni cities controlled by the Houthis including the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, as well as the governorship areas of Al Hudaydah, Sa'ada, and Dhamar.

The attack was carried out in retaliation for the Houthi group's attack on civilian ships in the Red Sea that sparked fears of a new inflation crisis and disruption to the supply chain.

"China is ready to work closely with all parties to help defuse the situation and maintain the security and stability of the Red Sea region," added Wang Wenbin, although he did not explain what China's next action would be.

He only said that China was very concerned about the recent escalation of tensions in the Red Sea.

"The Red Sea is an important international trade route for logistics and energy. China has established close communication with various parties and is trying to actively defuse tensions in the Red Sea," he said.

China, Wang said, called for an end to actions that caused disruption to civilian ships, and urged related parties not to add "fuel" into the fire in the Red Sea and jointly maintain the safety of the Red Sea shipping route in accordance with the law.

It was previously reported that many freight ships passed the Red Sea using Chinese symbols and wrote "the entire crew came from China" to show they had ties to China to avoid attacks from the Houthis.

But the Chinese government has denied the Houthi group promised security for Chinese-flagged ships in the Red Sea.