Beijing: China on Thursday backed efforts to ensure the reopening and safe passage of international shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, as escalating tensions linked to the Iran-US war and Houthi attacks raise concerns over global oil supplies and maritime security.
In a joint communique issued after talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Djiboutian counterpart Abdoulkader Houssein Omar in Beijing, China supported “constructive efforts” to keep international shipping lanes safe and open.
Djibouti occupies a strategic position near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean. The country also hosts China's first overseas naval base.
The statement comes amid concerns that the Iran-US war could further disrupt shipping through the Red Sea. Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait have raised fears over Saudi oil exports, while restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have added pressure on global energy supplies.
Chinese analysts have raised the possibility of Beijing deploying naval escorts if the situation deteriorates. However, Li Weijian, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, said the current situation did not yet warrant such operations, as no Chinese vessels had been threatened or attacked.
Speaking to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, Li said Beijing remained committed to pursuing a peaceful and lasting solution through diplomacy. He added that China could take further measures if the situation escalated and threatened Chinese shipping or the lives and property of its citizens.
Meanwhile, attacks on oil tankers have reportedly spread beyond the Strait of Hormuz, with vessels targeted near Iraq and Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
In a warning issued on Wednesday, the British maritime agency said an oil tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile on Tuesday, about 30 nautical miles southeast of Al-Faw, Iraq. The crew were safe, and no damage to the vessel was reported.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, another oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile and caught fire in waters off Oman, near the western entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The fire was extinguished, and all crew members were reported safe.
The agency did not disclose the names of the vessels or identify those responsible for the attacks. The incidents have heightened concerns over the security of vital shipping routes as regional tensions threaten energy transportation and international trade.
(With agency inputs from Reuters and PTI)
