China Holds Talks with Houthis to Secure Safe Passage for Oil Tankers in the Red Sea
China has reportedly held discussions with Yemen’s Houthi movement in an effort to ensure the safe passage of its oil tankers through the Red Sea, according to multiple reports.
The talks were reportedly aimed at protecting Chinese-flagged or China-linked vessels transporting crude oil and petrochemical products from Saudi Arabian ports as they transit one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.
The reports also indicate that the Houthi campaign against commercial shipping in the Red Sea has significantly disrupted maritime trade and affected Saudi Arabia’s seaborne export operations. The attacks have forced many shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing transportation costs and delivery times.
Neither Beijing nor the Houthis have officially confirmed the reported discussions. If confirmed, the talks would underscore China’s growing diplomatic engagement in safeguarding its energy supply chains and commercial interests amid continued instability in the Red Sea.