Escalation of conflict must be prevented: China Daily editorial

Houthi forces have intensified their military campaign in Yemen, seizing territories, including strategic islands near and inside the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial choke point in the Red Sea. The Houthis also launched drone and missile attacks on Saudi cities and infrastructure. In response, Saudi Arabia intensified its air strikes on Yemeni targets under the Houthis' control.

But the momentum on the ground has shifted decisively. The Houthis have effectively consolidated control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The timing could not be worse. With the Strait of Hormuz already under severe pressure from the broader Middle East crisis, Houthi control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has dealt another blow to global maritime transportation and energy supply lines, leading to skyrocketing energy prices and economic instability worldwide. The "twin-choke-point" strategy of controlling Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has weaponized energy markets in ways that affect the world.

On Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Yemen and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the second within a week, which underscores the global community's concern.

During the meeting, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Sun Lei, said that China deeply regrets the rapid and continuous escalation of the conflict, and calls for all parties involved to exercise calm and restraint. Emphasizing the importance of an immediate ceasefire, he urged all sides to avoid actions that could further escalate tensions.

Sun reiterated that China firmly opposes attacks on civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, and emphasizes that the red line of protecting civilians and civilian facilities must not be breached under any circumstances. Maintaining normal shipping order in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is a shared responsibility for all parties. China firmly opposes any attacks on civilian vessels, and the navigation rights of commercial ships in the Red Sea should be respected by all parties in accordance with international law.

The fundamental solution to the navigation safety risks in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait lies in eliminating armed conflicts on land and achieving lasting peace. Regardless of the differences, the way forward should be sought at the negotiating table, not through gunfire.

Gulf countries have unique advantages and successful practices in mediating the Yemen issue, and China supports them in playing a greater role in facilitating peace talks for the current conflict.

Underscoring China's role as a mediator and advocating for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the region, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi in Beijing on Wednesday.

Wang urged all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz at an early date, keep international waterways open and secure, and safeguard the stability of international energy transportation as well as production and supply chains.

Saying that China does not wish to see regional tensions further spill over into Yemen and the Red Sea, Wang called on all parties to refrain from actions that further complicate the situation and to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation.

The current situation has once again exposed flaws in the Middle East's existing security architecture, highlighting the need for reform and improvement. The cycle of tit-for-tat retaliation and the use of major international waterways as leverage have been in full effect since the outbreak of the Iran conflict in late February.

Now, with the crisis continuing to expand, drawing in more countries and players, it could lead to a wider war with devastating consequences for the region and beyond. Too much is at stake for all involved, and it is crucial for key players to recognize the importance of a ceasefire and to heed the calls from the international community for a return to negotiations and dialogue.

Before the Middle East crisis erupted, the region had begun exploring a path toward rapprochement. Under a China-brokered agreement, Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic ties. Regional states, increasingly aware of the importance of keeping the initiative for their own development in their hands, were also exploring sustainable growth models beyond oil.

Should today's turmoil not prompt the world to ask which forces have pushed a region on the verge of pursuing development back into a quagmire of chaos — and to what end?