China urges opening Bab al-Mandeb in first joint statement with regional nation

Chinese analysts said the situation in the Red Sea has not yet escalated to a level that warrants direct naval escorts, though Beijing will closely monitor the region and may take action in the event the country’s shipping comes under threat.

“The two sides emphasised the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and stressed that the navigation rights exercised by merchant vessels of all countries in accordance with international law should be respected,” read the communique released after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Djiboutian counterpart Abdoulkader Houssein Omar met in Beijing on Wednesday.

“China supports Red Sea coastal states in constructively safeguarding the unobstructed and secure operation of international shipping lanes and protecting the region’s common interests,” it added.