China urges ‘Dialogue’ After Yemen Rebels claim to have attacked US carrier

BEIJING, March 17: China on Monday called for “dialogue” and a de-escalation of tensions in the Red Sea after Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels claimed to have attacked a US aircraft carrier group twice within 24 hours.

“China opposes any action that escalates the situation in the Red Sea,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing.

The Huthis said their attacks were in retaliation for deadly US strikes.

The group initially claimed to have launched 18 missiles and a drone at the “USS Harry Truman and its accompanying warships” in the Red Sea, before hours later claiming to have fired a second round.

Washington has vowed to continue striking Yemen until the rebels stop attacking Red Sea shipping, with President Donald Trump warning he will use “overwhelming lethal force.”

Beijing on Monday reiterated calls for diplomacy to resolve the tensions.

“The reasons behind the situation in the Red Sea and the Yemen issue are complex and should be properly resolved through dialogue and negotiation,” Mao said.

The Iran-backed Huthis, who control much of the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country, have attacked Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war, claiming to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians.

Beijing last year called for an end to the “harassment” of civilian ships in the waters, through which much of China’s trade with the European Union flows.

RSS / Agence France Press