In the Red Sea, the Houthis have taken control of a key passage and have openly declared that any ships passing through it will have to pay a fee or face a missile attack. Dubbed the "Red Sea Crisis", this action has implications far beyond the region and into the global economy, especially the safety and smoothness of international shipping. The United States, as a global leader, feels that it cannot sit idly by and see the problem as an indirect consequence of its policies in the Middle East. Therefore, the United States decided to form a fleet of ten countries in order to demonstrate its strength, hoping to have an oppressive effect on the Houthis.
However, this so-called "ten-nation fleet" soon existed in name only. The United States originally planned to attract some major countries in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, but these countries did not respond to the United States' call and directly refused to participate. This frustrated the initial plans of the United States.
Despite the efforts of the United States to organize this fleet, some of these countries, such as Bahrain and Seychelles, actually tried to make up the numbers. Bahrain's navy is very small, while Seychelles does not even have its own navy. Soon, Australia and Spain announced their withdrawal, and the Netherlands and Norway only symbolically provided some staff officers and did not contribute substantially. France and Italy sent a ** as a symbol, and the only ones to rely on were Britain and Canada. Thus, in fact, this so-called "Ten-Nation Fleet" is ultimately nothing more than the Fifth Fleet of the US Navy.
This situation calls into question the global influence of the United States, which, as a superpower, is unable to effectively organize a multi-faceted operation. The United States then turned its attention to China, hoping that China would play a role in maintaining the safety of shipping in the Red Sea and avoiding attacks on merchant ships. U.S. spokesman Robert Miller expressed a desire for China to participate, whether by persuading the Houthis and Iran, or by joining the fleet organized by the U.S. military. In response, China's spokesman Wang Wenbin said that all influential powers, especially those with special responsibilities in the region, should play a role.
On this issue, China has shown a clear position that it is not willing to "wipe its ass" for problems created by the United States. This position reflects China's expectation that it will be held accountable for the consequences of U.S. policy in the Middle East, and it also shows that China does not want to be drawn into U.S.-sponsored military action.
In addition, the article by American analyst Zhang Jiadun argues that behind the Houthi attacks on merchant ships is China's support. His logic is that China buys Iranian oil, thereby indirectly financing the Houthis. This view has been questioned because it ignores the complexity and multilateralism of the international community. If this logic is extended to other countries, the United States can also be accused of supporting the conflicts of other countries through its ** behavior.
The Red Sea crisis has exposed the limitations of the United States in dealing with international conflicts and the weakening of its influence on the global stage. At the same time, it also demonstrates China's cautious attitude in international affairs and its firm stance that the consequences of US policy should be borne by the United States itself. The United States needs to revisit its policy in the Middle East and recognize that unilateral military action is not always the best way to solve problems. For China, safeguarding its national interests and international status is its top priority, and at the same time, it will also contribute to the maintenance of regional peace and stability under appropriate circumstances.
This incident reflects several important issues of international relations and geopolitics.
First, the outbreak of such conflicts reveals the instability and complexity of the Middle East region. The Houthi actions in the Red Sea not only threaten the security of the region, but also have an impact on the global economy, especially international shipping. The Red Sea is an important international waterway, and any conflict and instability in the region could have serious global repercussions.
Secondly, the United States tried to respond to the crisis by forming a multinational fleet, but it was clearly challenged. This not only reflects the difficulty of the United States in organizing an international coalition, but also exposes that its global influence may be waning. The hesitation of countries to join such military action suggests that global political power is changing and that American influence may not be as absolute as it has been in the past.
For China, this incident reflects its growing influence and responsibility in the international arena. The United States wants China to be involved in resolving this crisis, reflecting China's potential role in maintaining international security and stability. At the same time, China's response suggests that it prefers to take an independent and prudent stance and avoid direct involvement in conflicts triggered by other countries.
Zhang's accusations and arguments reflect the common shirk of responsibility and the complexity of international relations in international politics. Such attribution of blame to specific countries often oversimplifies complex international affairs and can exacerbate rather than alleviate conflicts.
Taken together, this incident highlights the complexity of conflicts in the Middle East, the challenges of the United States in building the League of Nations, and China's independent and prudent approach to international affairs. At the same time, it also reminds the international community of the need to work together to resolve regional conflicts through diplomacy rather than military means alone in order to maintain global security and stability.