Chinese officials have told their Iranian counterparts to intervene in the Houthi rebel group's ongoing attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea—or risk losing a crucial trade partner, Reuters said on Friday, in the first known report of direct discussions about the subject.
"Basically, China says: 'If our interests are harmed in any way, it will impact our business with Tehran. So tell the Houthis to show restraint,'" said an Iranian official briefed on the talks, according to Reuters, which said the Chinese government was now pressing the Islamic Republican to "rein in" the Yemen-based fighters.
Beijing has publicly stated that it disapproves of disruptions to international shipping and is for maritime security more generally. However, it has not openly condemned the Houthis, who have launched repeated drone and anti-ship ballistic missile strikes on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
The Houthis say they oppose Israel and act in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas fighting in the Gaza Strip. China did not condemn Hamas' attack on October 7—the deadliest violence against the Jewish people since the Holocaust—and has linked the Red Sea shipping crisis to the ensuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
China's senior officials also have questioned the legitimacy of U.S.-led airstrikes on Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen. America's increased involvement in the Middle East also has been a propaganda boon for Chinese state media outlets.
Behind the scenes, however, the Houthi attacks are causing significant disruptions to Chinese trade, too, with several of the world's largest shipping companies now choosing alternative routes.
According to Reuters, the participants of the China-Iran discussions were not revealed, but exchanges on the topic took place at several recent meetings in Beijing and Tehran, which made clear that the extensive trade ties between the two nations were at stake if the attacks continued.
The Chinese pressure was indirect, lacking in any explicit threats regarding the potential consequences, the report said. But Iranian sources said Beijing left no doubt that it would be disappointed in Tehran if any vessels linked to China were targeted, or if Chinese interests were compromised in any way.
China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately return Newsweek's written request to comment on the Reuters report.
China is a major supplier for Iran's missile and drone program, with a defense technology partnership goes back to the Cold War. Chinese oil refiners also are Iran's biggest customers, accounting for an estimated 90 percent or more of its crude oil exports last year.
U.S. and British strikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen—coming after repeated warnings as well as the establishment of a U.S.-led naval coalition—appeaer to have done little to deter the rebels.
The Shiite Muslim Houthi movement emerged in the 1980s and now controls a substantial portion of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and large stretches of the country's coastline on the Red Sea.
The rebels are believed to be funded, trained and armed by Iran. U.S. officials have long believed that Beijing holds sway over Tehran and has asked Chinese officials to take measures for the sake of maritime security.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Aadil Brar is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers international security, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian ... Read more
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