Amid rising tensions in the Red Sea, Egypt and China issued a joint statement on Sunday the 14th highlighting the priority of ensuring shipping safety. Both nations expressed concern about the widening conflict in the region and stressed the importance of efforts to stop attacks in Gaza.
Call to stop the attacks
At a news conference in Cairo following a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah alSisi, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for an end to attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea. However, he did not mention the Iranbacked Houthi militia responsible for such attacks.
The current problem of the Red Sea
“The situation in the Red Sea has deteriorated recently and China is deeply concerned about it,” Wang said. “China calls for an end to harassment and attacks on civilian ships and to maintain the smooth running of global industrial and supply chains and the international trade order.”
Disguised criticism
In a thinly veiled criticism of US and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, Wang pointed out that the UN Security Council had not authorized such measures. “It is necessary to avoid adding fuel to the fire of tensions in the Red Sea and preventing an increase in the overall security risk in the region,” Wang said, without naming the US and Britain.
The sovereignty of countries must be respected
Wang added that while it is necessary for all parties to jointly maintain the security of the Red Sea waterways in accordance with the law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries on both sides of the Red Sea, including Yemen, must be respected.
Impact on the gas industry
QatarEnergy, the world's secondlargest exporter of liquefied natural gas, has stopped shipping tankers across the Red Sea although production continues, a senior source with direct knowledge of the matter told Portal on Monday.