Recently, due to the frequent attacks by the Houthis on Israeli ships in the Red Sea, the United States proposed the "Red Sea Escort Operation", claiming that "more than 20 countries have joined the Red Sea Escort Alliance". However, this plan has been rejected by many countries, which are willing to send only a limited number of personnel, such as Australia, which has only promised to send 16 people. Even more ironic is the fact that eight other countries chose to remain anonymous and would not disclose the truth.
The original plan was to secure the Red Sea shipping lanes by forming a multinational alliance with these allies providing escort ships to share the burden on the United States. However, the reality shows that the US plan has clearly failed and does not have the full support of its allies. Now, the United States has to choose between securing the Red Sea shipping lanes with its own military or ending the alliance.
If the former is chosen, it will be necessary to mobilize a large number of naval vessels to the Red Sea region, and it is necessary not only to consider whether the United States has sufficient military resources, but also to face the possible prolongation of escort operations, which is beyond the military capacity of the United StatesAt the same time, does this require the United States to break with its established strategy and re-engage in the Middle East?These issues are all thorny and require careful consideration by the United States.
Choosing the latter is even more unpleasant, which means that the United States compromises in the face of the Middle East crisis and openly admits that it is difficult for itself to control the overall situation in the Middle East, which will seriously impact the hegemonic position of the United States. Therefore, the United States seems to be making trouble for itself, and no matter what it chooses, the next situation will be quite embarrassing for the United States. It is worth noting that the "slap in the face" of the United States has allowed China to win more attention on the international stage.
In the current crisis in the Middle East, international shipping companies face enormous challenges due to the closure of the Red Sea region due to the blockade by the Houthis. Many ships were forced to make a detour around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa and then through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean, eventually arriving at European and Israeli ports. This detour route not only increases the cost of shipping, but also consumes more time, putting a huge strain on shipping companies.
In this context, the "Yinhe" merchant ship under China Ocean Shipping Group has recently attracted widespread attention. It is worth noting that despite the blockade of the Red Sea route and the suspension of international shipping companies, the "Yinhe" freighter safely passed through the Red Sea. This outstanding performance has attracted the attention of Western countries and sparked a series of discussions.
However, despite the fact that the Houthis have given some face to the Milky Way, this does not mean that there are no potential risks for Chinese freighters sailing in the Red Sea. The danger in the Red Sea region is gradually increasing, and it cannot be ruled out that there may be hostile actions against Chinese cargo ships and attempts to blame the Houthis. Therefore, considering safety factors, many Chinese shipping companies have begun to adjust their routes, especially for the most valuable container ships, they choose to detour the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, although this practice brings higher costs, but it is safer and more reliable.