China’s much-touted ambitions of becoming a new power broker in the Middle East face a significant test as Houthi rebels continue their assault on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The attacks on this crucial shipping route have disrupted global trade and raised concerns about a broader regional conflict amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
The world’s largest trading nation, China, has so far offered a limited public response to the Red Sea crisis. It has called for an end to attacks on civilian ships and indirectly criticized U.S.-led military operations against the Houthis. This cautious approach has led some analysts to question China’s commitment to its global aspirations.
The Houthi rebels began targeting ships in the Red Sea in mid-November, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. While China’s initial response was muted, it has become more vocal as the U.S. and Britain initiated military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. China has urged an end to the attacks and emphasized the need to avoid escalating tensions.
China’s reluctance to directly involve itself in the Red Sea crisis reflects its geopolitical calculations. Beijing has positioned itself as a champion of the Global South, expressing support for the Palestinian cause and criticizing Israel and the U.S. during the Israel-Hamas war. Joining a Western coalition led by the U.S. is seen as potentially strengthening U.S. regional influence at the expense of China’s.
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has urged China to use its “substantial leverage with Iran” to pressure the Houthis into halting their attacks. The U.S. contends that Iran trains, funds, and equips the Houthi rebels. Chinese officials reportedly asked Iran to rein in the Houthis during recent meetings, emphasizing the potential impact on business relations.
The Red Sea crisis has directly affected China’s economic interests. Chinese state-owned shipping companies, COSCO and OOCL, diverted dozens of ships from the Red Sea to a longer route around Africa, increasing shipping costs and causing delays. This disruption has led to a surge of over 300% in ocean freight rates from Shanghai to Europe between November and January, posing challenges to Chinese exporters.
China’s inaction in the face of the Red Sea crisis has undermined its credibility with regional actors, according to analysts. The perception of China as an emerging extra-regional power is questioned when it refrains from active involvement while the U.S.-UK-led coalition takes military action.
The situation places China in a delicate position, requiring a balance between its relations with Iran, an anti-U.S. ally, and the Gulf countries, crucial economic partners. While China brokered a historic rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran last year, addressing the Houthi attacks proves to be a more challenging diplomatic task.
China’s response to the Red Sea crisis raises questions about its broader global ambitions, particularly the Global Security Initiative (GSI) launched by President Xi Jinping in 2022. The GSI advocates resolving conflicts through development but faces challenges as the Middle East experiences escalating conflicts, testing China’s commitment to providing hard security solutions.
As the crisis continues, China’s actions will not only impact its immediate diplomatic and economic interests but will also shape perceptions of its role as a responsible global power in the evolving geopolitics of the Middle East.
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