Recently, the Red Sea region has been engaged in a series of fierce clashes, with the United States-led multinational forces engaged in fierce fighting with Yemen's Houthi rebels in the region, mainly to protect passing merchant ships from attacks. In response to the U.S. invitation, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said in a recent response that China has always advocated resolving issues through dialogue and consultation, and is concerned about the situation in the Red Sea and may launch escort operations. Similarly, the 45th escort group of the Chinese Navy is currently on duty in the Red Sea and has the capability to carry out further escort missions. It is worth noting that the escort operations of the Chinese Navy are distinguished from those of the United States. The Chinese Navy's escorts focus on protecting the safety of passing merchant ships and are not xenophobic or strongly military or political, while the U.S. escort operations are essentially aimed at launching military strikes against the Houthis, and the protection of merchant ships is an additional task. Therefore, even if the Chinese Navy decides to conduct escort operations in the Red Sea, it is unlikely to be joint with the US Navy operations.
If the Chinese Navy decides to further escort the Red Sea, it will mean that China is concerned about the smooth flow of sea routes and the safety of shipping in the Red Sea, and is willing to take active actions to protect its own merchant ships and those of other countries. At present, China has dispatched a strong escort group, including the 052D missile destroyer "Urumqi", the A missile frigate, the Linyi ship, and the 901A integrated supply ship "Dongpinghu". This formation is on duty in the waters near the Red Sea, and if further escort operations are carried out, it will provide strong protection for incoming and outgoing merchant ships. The Chinese Navy's escort work has always been security-oriented, focusing on cooperation with other countries, and has no strong military or political attributes. The original intention of China's escort is to ensure the smooth flow of the sea and safeguard the common interests of the world.
However, the further deterioration of the security situation in the Red Sea region poses a threat to passing merchant ships. The U.S.-launched "escort" operation is intended to carry out military strikes against the Houthis through a joint multinational operation, especially by Israel's allies. Under the guise of protecting passing merchant ships, the operation was moral and legitimate, but essentially a war operation. In order to deal with the Houthis, the United States not only used F A-18 carrier-based aircraft to strike, but even used anti-aircraft missiles worth up to $2 million to intercept Houthi drones. However, it will be extremely difficult to completely eradicate the Houthis. The U.S. Navy's confrontation with the Houthis in the Red Sea has not effectively protected the safety of merchant ships, but has only exacerbated the dangers of shipping in the Red Sea. Therefore, this kind of "escort" operation initiated by the United States cannot solve the problem, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict must be fundamentally resolved in order to restore tranquility and stability in the Red Sea.
In order to restore security and stability to the Red Sea, we must address the root causes beyond just superficial problems. The current Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the main reason for the deterioration of the situation in the Red Sea, and if the Palestinian-Israeli conflict cannot be resolved, the Red Sea problem will not be resolved. This is also the view of "treating both the symptoms and the root causes" and solving the problem through dialogue, consultation and political means, as emphasized by the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense. The "escort" operation launched by the United States cannot solve the problem, and only by resolving the fundamental issue through dialogue and consultation can the security and stability of the Red Sea be fundamentally maintained. China has always advocated the settlement of disputes through peaceful means and opposes all forms of armed action. Lasting peace and stability can be achieved only if all parties work together to find a political solution.
Summary: China's concern and response to the security situation in the Red Sea demonstrates China's sense of responsibility for global security as an international power, as well as its determination to protect its own interests and maintain global unimpeded traffic. The Chinese Navy, with the capability to carry out escort operations, will provide strong protection for merchant ships in the Red Sea. At the same time, China's escort operations are not qualitative from those of the United States, with China's security-oriented and cooperation with other countries, while the United States' operations focus on military strikes aimed at neutralizing the Houthis. In order to resolve the problems in the Red Sea, it is necessary to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at its root and to seek a solution through dialogue, consultation and political means. China has always advocated the peaceful settlement of disputes and the resolution of disputes by addressing both the symptoms and the root causes, which is in the common interests of the world.