China says it opposes attacks on civilian vessels in Red Sea

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Thursday opposed any attack on civilian vessels in the Red Sea amid security concerns following Houthi attacks.

“The Red Sea is an important international route for trade and energy, and maintaining security and stability in the region is in the common interest of the international community,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters in Beijing.

He said China has “always advocated for the security of international waterways and opposes any acts of attacking civilian vessels.”

“All parties, especially influential major countries, should play a constructive and responsible role in maintaining the safety of the Red Sea navigation routes,” said Wang, according to the Beijing-based daily Global Times.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced earlier this week the creation of a multinational naval task force to counter Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

According to the US announcement, so far NATO nations the UK, Canada, France, Italy, Norway, and the Netherlands pledged support for the Operation Prosperity Guardian to defend merchant ships transiting between Asia and Europe.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have significantly stepped up their involvement in the current conflict in the Gaza Strip by targeting vessels in the southern Red Sea, saying the move came in solidarity with “the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip.”

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.