SANAA: China’s charge d’affaires in Yemen, Shao Zheng, has said that Beijing is making concerted efforts to facilitate peace negotiations in Yemen and urged for an immediate end to attacks on commercial shipping routes through the Red Sea.
In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat published on Monday, Shao Zheng highlighted China’s diplomatic engagements with all relevant parties, including UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, aimed at resolving the conflict in Yemen.
“We are actively engaged in discussions to support a peace agreement in Yemen,” Zheng stated.
Regarding maritime security in the Red Sea, Zheng reiterated China’s stance on safeguarding international shipping lanes, emphasizing the importance of protecting commercial vessels from attacks. He pointed out that despite China’s military base in Djibouti not being directly involved in current Red Sea operations, the Chinese navy has played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of over 7,200 ships in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast over the past 15 years, involving 35,000 Chinese soldiers.
“The Red Sea crisis has persisted for nearly six months, causing significant disruptions and losses. We call for an immediate cessation of these attacks,” Zheng urged.
Zheng expressed China’s view that achieving peace in Gaza and providing humanitarian aid are critical to preventing the escalation of crises in the region. He stressed the need to respect the sovereignty of Red Sea countries like Yemen and enhance security measures for commercial shipping to ensure uninterrupted global supply chains.
Addressing recent incidents, including the Houthi attack on the China-flagged ship MV Huang Pu in March, Zheng highlighted the complexities of identifying ship nationalities in the foreign shipping market. He reiterated China’s call for upholding international law and protecting civilians from targeted attacks in conflict zones.
