China declined a U.S. request to take joint international action to counter missile attacks on global shipping by Houthi rebels in Yemen, a senior American diplomat said Thursday, Oct. 3. Instead, Beijing reportedly encouraged the Iranian-backed Houthis to target non-Chinese vessels, according to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell.
Speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Campbell criticized China’s response as “profoundly unhelpful,” raising doubts about its commitment to global cooperation.
The conflict, driven by Houthi missile and drone attacks, has severely disrupted vital shipping lanes through the Red Sea since late 2023, affecting trade routes between Europe and China.
Nearly 99% of container ships traveling between Europe and China pass through the Suez Canal and Red Sea.
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Following the attacks, roughly half of these vessels were forced to divert to the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Campbell said.
The U.S. sought to collaborate with China, which maintains a naval base in Djibouti, to safeguard shipping lanes from the Houthis. However, China chose to communicate directly with the rebels, requesting they avoid Chinese vessels while continuing attacks on others.
Iran, which is under international sanctions and is a key ally of the Houthi rebels, sells 90% of its oil to China, giving Beijing diplomatic leverage.
Despite these close ties, Campbell expressed frustration over China’s failure to take a more proactive role in addressing the crisis.
China has long-standing relationships with many Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, and played a pivotal role in brokering the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two nations in 2023.