China Urges De-escalation in Red Sea, Calls for Dialogue

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, China on Wednesday urged relevant parties to resolve their disputes through dialogue and consultation and to take steps toward reducing tensions in the Red Sea. Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a press conference in Beijing, in response to a question about reports of negotiations between China and Yemen’s Ansar Allah regarding shipping safety, that Beijing “is closely monitoring the developments in the Red Sea.” She emphasized that the sovereignty and security of regional countries must be respected, while safe and unimpeded passage through international waterways should be jointly protected. The Red Sea is one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, connecting Europe and Asia. Previously, Yemen’s Ansar Allah announced that it would impose a reciprocal blockade against Saudi Arabia in response to the latter’s siege.