Red Sea Attacks Spur Claims of Beijing’s Diversion Strategy

A ship transits the Suez Canal toward the Red Sea in Ismailia, Egypt on Jan.10, 2024. In the wake of Israel's war on Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel, Houthi rebels in Yemen pledged disruption on all ships destined for Israel through the Red Sea's Suez Canal. Sayed Hassan/Getty Images

News Analysis

In a recent uptick in global tensions, Houthi armed forces have launched attacks on passing ships in the Red Sea, causing disruptions to global supply chains. Experts suggest that this may be another strategic move by Iran, following their alleged instigation of the Hamas attacks on Israel.

Simultaneously, there are claims that China seeks to divert U.S. attention from the Pacific by backing conflict in the Middle East, with evidence suggesting that the origin of the missiles used in the Red Sea attacks points to China.

A fifth round of U.S. strikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi armed forces in Yemen occurred on Jan. 24, the BBC reported. This marked the latest action against the Iran-backed Houthi armed forces, who are also fighting Yemen’s internationally backed government for local control.

On Jan. 12, the United States and its allies launched a significant operation involving more than 100 precision-guided missiles that hit more than 60 targets across 28 Houthi-controlled locations.

Targets included the Houthi armed forces’ assets, such as command and control nodes, ammunition depots, warehouses, launch systems, production facilities, and anti-aircraft radar systems.

The operation was in response to the Houthis’ repeated attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, posing threats to key trade and energy transport routes globally.

President Joe Biden emphasized that the strikes, supported by U.S. allies, aim to address the “outrageous behavior” of the Houthis.

Carl Schuster, former director of operations at the Hawaii Joint Intelligence Center, believes the operation was significant and aims to diminish the Houthis’ ability to launch further strikes. However, he acknowledged that it may not prevent future attacks entirely.

Mr. Schuster stated that the U.S. attacks inflicted significant losses on the Houthi armed forces, potentially damaging their ability to control territory in the Yemeni civil war.

As a result, the Houthi forces may consider ceasing their disturbances in the Red Sea.

However, Mr. Schuster expressed concern that Iran might instigate the Houthi forces to continue harassing international ships transiting past Yemen.

Mr. Schuster notes that Iran’s motivation could be to exert pressure on Europe and the United States to influence Israel into ceasing its attacks on Hamas in Gaza.

The disturbance in the Red Sea poses a threat to major commercial shipping routes, impacting the flow of supplies and cargo between Asia and Europe, as well as U.S. ports. Mr. Schuster views this as Iran leveraging an “economic lever” against Europe and the United States.

Additionally, Mr. Schuster speculates that Iran plans various activities in the Red Sea to showcase its strength and power while signaling its interests.

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas launched a sudden attack on Israel, involving more than 3,000 rockets in the first four hours and 2,500 armed terrorists breaching Israel’s defenses. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of 1,200 civilian lives and marked the most severe violation of Israel’s borders since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

Hamas terrorists move toward the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023. Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images

Insider claims published in The Wall Street Journal described collaboration between Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers and Hamas in planning the invasion, with meetings held in Beirut involving representatives of four Iranian-supported radical organizations. These organizations included Hamas in Gaza as well as Shiite radical groups and political factions in Lebanon, such as Hezbollah.

Beijing’s Role in Red Sea Turmoil

Fabian Hinz, a researcher at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, said in a post on social media platform X late last month that Houthi armed forces possess two formidable anti-ship ballistic missiles, namely “Asef” and “Tankil,” with potential modifications based on existing Iranian designs.

Shedding light on the origins of these missiles, internet news magazine Newsweek reported that Chinese military blogger “Krolliov” traced them back to China’s Red Flag 2A surface-to-air missiles, exported to Iran during the 1980s Iran–Iraq War, and the B610 and B611 missiles developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.

Chinese military blogger Zhang Bin claimed on TikTok that the Houthi armed forces have become the “first organization to use Chinese missile technology to attack ships.”

As early as 2013, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Farragut and the Yemeni coast guard discovered Chinese weapons on rebel ships in Yemen. The arsenal included C-4 explosives, electronic circuits, small-caliber ammunition, laser rangefinders, artillery, and shells convertible into roadside bombs, the Popular Mechanics website reported.

U.S. and Yemeni officials also discovered 10 crates containing shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, the website reported. These boxes had Chinese templates, indicating that the missiles came from the state-owned China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corp. The images of these missiles show that they are “Vanguard 1-M” surface-to-air missiles aligned with the types used by the Chinese military.

Such alleged arms support from China extends beyond Yemen, with indications that its support extends to rebel forces in Syria. Photos released by a Syrian rebel group showcase members carrying Chinese FN-6 missiles, another variant of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles.

Strategy to Divert US Attention

Mr. Schuster suggested that the CCP is strategically exploiting “opportunities that have arisen” to weaken the United States by supporting violent extremist groups such as Hamas in the Middle East.

Mr. Schuster claims that Beijing supports Hamas with funds, weapons, and ammunition, potentially expecting actions favorable to its interests.

Notably, after Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel, the CCP refrained from condemning the terrorist acts. Instead, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized Israel’s retaliatory actions, alleging they exceeded the scope of self-defense.

Amid the turmoil in the Red Sea, the CCP is taking the same stance.

Yemen's Houthi fighters' takeover of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea, off Hudaydah, Yemen, on Nov. 20, 2023. Houthi Movement via Getty Images

Mr. Schuster points out that the technology used by Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and rebel forces in Yemen, including drones and anti-ship ballistic missiles, have their roots in Chinese designs.

“China sold drone designs to Iran many years ago and assisted them in developing their Iranian version,“ he said. ”In addition, the Houthi armed forces are using anti-ship ballistic missiles developed by Iran. They are using technology from China.”

He suggests that the CCP’s indirect support to those attacking U.S. interests in the Middle East diverts attention and resources away from Asia.

The fact that many ships transiting the Red Sea display the flag of the People’s Republic of China to avoid attacks from the Houthis points to covert ties between the two.

Recent signals from five ships declared, “Everyone onboard is Chinese,” as they sailed the Red Sea further fueled suspicions. All five ships were safe from attack, with two having crossed into Asia, two still in the Red Sea, and one heading to the Gulf of Aden.

On Jan. 10, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution “strongly condemning” multiple attacks by the Houthi armed forces along the coast of Yemen, disrupting global trade. However, the CCP, along with Russia, Algeria, and Mozambique, abstained from voting.