Why is China not protecting merchant ships in the Red Sea?

2024-03-07 07:30:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

An attack by Yemen's Houthi militants has damaged a ship in the Gulf of Aden. The attack is the latest in a series of attacks by the group, which has hit US and British naval vessels in retaliation for Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Earlier in the week, a ship sank after being hit by a missile, while the US and Britain have struck bases of the militant group, with the sole aim of keeping this trade route safe. But according to the correspondent of the Voice of America, Karla Babb, experts raise the question of why China is not reacting, even though about 40% of trade between Europe and Asia passes through the Red Sea.

This is one of the cargo ships sinking in the Red Sea after being hit by a Houthi missile last month.

The Rubymar is the first ship sunk by the militant group, but they have damaged dozens more since mid-November and even boarded one ship.

"Here we are in the middle of a real security crisis, which is for so many people an economic and diplomatic crisis in the region, and China is nowhere to be seen," said Republican Senator Todd Young.

The US and British militaries have carried out multiple strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen to destroy weapons and radars used to target merchant ships, an issue that prompted a Senate hearing last week.

“Our ships and our people there are in danger. China is the country most affected by the closure of this trade route in the Red Sea, and yet they remain indifferent, pretending to be everyone's friend," declared Mitt Romney, Republican Senator.

"We see an increase in attacks. This is absolutely unacceptable. When we talk about an international problem, there is a need for an international solution. The Chinese need to engage in a much more aggressive way," declared Tim Lenderking, the US special envoy for Yemen.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington recently told VOA that "China is willing to work with all parties to protect the safety of international shipping routes."

China announced that its 46th fleet on February 21 went into action, but VOA was unable to confirm the fleet's arrival in the Red Sea region.

"We would welcome China to have a productive role, but to my knowledge at this stage they have not offered and are not conducting any sort of operation to help protect seafarers or international shipping," the Department of Defense spokesman said. Defense, General Pat Ryder.

Analysts warn that while the Chinese have tried to help with international problems in some cases over the past decade, their involvement has not always been for humanitarian reasons.

"There is also credible doubt that they could send ships just to gather information on the performance of our missile and drone detection technology. "What I think is that China will try to help the overall cause a little bit, but will be more focused on protecting its own ships and learning what the US is doing," says Michael O'Hanlon, of the Institute. Brookings.

Beijing is known in the region as the biggest buyer of Iran's crude oil, but has so far not shown it has enough leverage over Iran to stop missile attacks by the country's backed Houthi militants.

Militants say ships from China and Russia can pass safely through the Red Sea, but a tanker carrying Russian oil was hit by a Houthi missile earlier this year./ VOA