China and Djibouti have issued a joint communique emphasizing the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
What happened
The statement was released after a meeting between Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. The two nations stressed that navigation rights exercised by merchant vessels of all countries should be respected, in accordance with international law.
China has a significant presence in Djibouti, with its only acknowledged overseas naval base established in the country ten years ago. The base was recently upgraded with enhanced intelligence-gathering capabilities. China is also the top foreign investor in Djibouti, with investments in port facilities, railroads, and gas pipelines as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
The joint communique comes amid threats from Houthi insurgents in Yemen, who have been attacking shipping lanes in the Red Sea. China has strong reasons to want safe passage for commercial vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with significant imports and exports flowing through the region.
However, some analysts have expressed disappointment with the communique, saying it does not go far enough in addressing the threat posed by the Houthis. The statement’s call for “all parties” to commit to “easing tensions” has been criticized for being too vague and potentially encouraging the Houthis to continue their terrorist activities.
