Alessandro Arduino

Opinion | Will Yemen’s Houthis derail China’s plans to be global diplomatic power broker?

Greater uncertainty on maritime routes could heighten China’s concerns, especially since the Middle East meets over 40 per cent of China’s energy needs

Escalating provocations by the Iran-backed Houthis threaten trade and energy security, and also weigh on China’s credibility as a mediator in the region and globally

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A Houthi fighter keeps watch onboard of the seized ship Galaxy Leader three days after the Houthis seized it in the Red Sea. Photo: EPA-EFE

Alessandro Arduino

Published: 5:00pm, 6 Dec 2023

Last month, China hosted representatives from Arab and Muslim-majority countries, boosting its bid as a major diplomatic power broker to defuse the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Not long before Beijing’s call for an immediate Gaza ceasefire, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels escalated the threat of a conflict expansion by hijacking an Israel-linked commercial vessel in the Red Sea.

The Houthis, an ally of Tehran, on November 20 captured the Galaxy Leader, a Bahamian-flagged, Japanese-chartered British ship linked to Israeli business interests, in the proximity of the Yemeni coast. Part of the “Axis of Resistance” backed by Iran, the Houthis have rallied behind Palestinians in Gaza.

A Houthi helicopter flying over the cargo ship Galaxy Leader as Houthis seize it in the Red Sea. Photo: dpa

In 2021, an Israeli-owned commercial vessel was targeted by the Houthis, pushing Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu to accuse Iran, even though Tehran had denied any involvement. Again, this time, Israel quickly blamed Tehran. Iran, claiming no direct control over Houthi actions, used similar wording in its response after the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7.

Though there are proxy connections between Iran and various groups like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shia popular mobilisation units in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen, the degree of ideological alignment and willingness to strictly follow direct orders from Tehran vary among these militant organisations.

However, a question remains regarding how the Houthis tracked an India-bound vessel while its geolocation tracker was off. Typically, ships turn off the function to avoid detection in pirate-infested or conflict-ridden waters. Despite this, the Houthis located the ship and deployed a Soviet-era military helicopter with a commando on board, forcing the vessel to dock near the Yemeni port of Al-Hudayah. An Iranian vessel with advanced tracking capabilities was allegedly spotted in the area.

Amid Beijing’s special envoy Zhai Jun’s push for an urgent UN ceasefire in the Middle East, the involvement of proxy forces adds a layer of complexity, thwarting efforts for tangible outcomes.