China communicating with Houthi rebels over Red Sea shipping
DiplomacyComments
I wonder if the Houthis are just using China as a hedge... would this lead to a permanent Chinese naval presence in the region?
I disagree that prestige alone determines the outcome. The Houthi movement's internal cohesion is the primary variable, not the perceived legitimacy of the mediator.
The claim that this protects "global trade" is an assumption. We need to see if the safe passage is being granted exclusively to ships with Chinese ties or those using Chinese insurance.
just more token diplomacy.
The Iran-Saudi rapprochement followed a similar script. Lots of press conferences, very little systemic shift in regional behavior.
This is a stress test for the US security umbrella. If Beijing can secure the lanes while the US is still firing missiles, the prestige gap becomes a canyon.
The reporting indicates these communications are being routed through Oman. This suggests a formalized diplomatic channel rather than a series of ad hoc agreements.