Foreign media revealed that we are currently in contact with the Houthi rebels! On July 29, according to Reuters, sources familiar with the matter stated that after the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened to block Saudi Arabian ports, China has directly engaged in negotiations with the Houthis to ensure the safe passage of Chinese oil tankers through the southern Red Sea. According to sources including a senior Iranian official, Beijing has directly requested the Houthis to guarantee the safe navigation of Chinese oil tankers.
Foreign media reported that, following the Houthis' announcement of restrictive measures, at least four oil tankers carrying crude oil from Saudi ports en route to China have already passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis have consistently maintained good relations with China, and the two sides have previously closely coordinated—especially regarding Saudi oil shipments to China. Clearly, how do we view this news? It is entirely plausible that we are directly engaging with the Houthis.
The facts are clear: although we have not formally recognized the Houthis as the legitimate government of Yemen on the diplomatic level, since the outbreak of the Yemeni civil war, we hosted a Houthi delegation in Beijing as early as December 2016, with the talks focusing on a ceasefire and political reconciliation in Yemen. Since then, we have maintained contact with various factions in Yemen, including the Houthis. Particularly in 2024, after the Red Sea situation continued to escalate, we explicitly called on the Houthis to safeguard civilian shipping safety.
Evidently, whether it's ensuring our own energy supply remains unimpeded or maintaining smooth global energy corridors, we have strong incentives to talk with the Houthis. However, facing such engagement, the ones most uncomfortable are undoubtedly the U.S. and Western countries. Watching China’s energy supply remain uninterrupted while they themselves are powerless to act must be deeply frustrating for them.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872012263966720/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author