China urges opening Bab al-Mandeb in first joint statement with regional nation

AI Summary

China and Djibouti jointly called for the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to remain open and international shipping lanes to be kept safe amid fallout from the US-Iran war. Chinese analysts say Beijing is not yet considering naval escorts, but will monitor the region and could act if Chinese shipping faces a threat.

China backs “constructive efforts” to ensure international shipping lanes are safe and open, a communique jointly issued with Djibouti said, marking Beijing’s first formal statement with a Red Sea nation on containing the fallout from the US-Iran war. Chinese analysts said the situation in the Red Sea has not yet escalated to a level that warrants direct naval escorts, though Beijing will closely monitor the region and may take action in the event the country’s shipping comes under threat. “The...