Recently, the United States has faced a series of challenges and dilemmas in the Red Sea crisis. Whether it is the Houthi bombing campaign or the attack on merchant ships, the United States has failed to achieve the desired results. The Houthis have not only blocked US shipping lanes in the Red Sea region, but are also actively launching attacks in places like Iraq and Iran, where their allies are located. It can be said that the situation of the United States in the Middle East has reached a worrying point. In such a situation, the United States has to turn to China in the hope that China will engage in dialogue and pressure with Iran to stop the actions of the Houthis.
U.S. adviser Jake Sullivan recently traveled to Thailand for talks with high-level Chinese officials, apparently hoping to resolve the Red Sea crisis through cooperation with China. The choice of the venue for this meeting also indicates the intentions of the United States, and Thailand is located in the vicinity of China, so it can be said that Sullivan has pinned hopes on China. However, the defeat of the United States in the Red Sea crisis and the pressure on China occurred almost simultaneously, which raises questions about the true purpose of the United States. Especially when it comes to relations between China and Iran, the United States always has a tone of mockery and dissatisfaction. Some**, even without any evidence, blame China for controlling the Houthis. This behavior raises questions about whether the United States really wants to solve the Red Sea crisis or has other plans.
The common position of China and Iran has brought a new turn to the Red Sea crisis. They agreed that the root cause of the Red Sea crisis is the Gaza conflict, and in characterizing the Red Sea crisis, China did not point the finger at the Houthis, but instead blamed Israel, which triggered the Gaza conflict. In addition, China and Iran have stood united in thwarting U.S. attempts to sow discord and stop the Houthis. In short, the common position of China and Iran has broken the American layout, thus putting the United States in a dilemma. They will not be able to solve the problem of the Houthis or get out of this Red Sea crisis.
In fact, the main reasons for the tension in the Red Sea are the United States and Israel. The current Red Sea crisis remains unresolved, largely due to the protracted failure of the conflict in Gaza. The escalation of tensions in Gaza is directly related to the disregard for justice and the obstruction of the UN Security Council from adopting the ceasefire draft resolution. Moreover, the United States, trying to solve the problem through military action, ignores the fundamental problems of the Gaza conflict, which only exacerbates the crisis and does nothing to de-escalate the situation. Therefore, if the United States really wants to get out of this Middle East mess, it is better to restrain its own hands and feet first, rather than trying to drag China into the water.
The key to resolving the Red Sea crisis lies in U.S.-China cooperation. China has maintained close communication with all parties in the past and has actively worked to reduce tensions. However, the United States has turned a blind eye to this and has repeatedly asked China to exert influence on Iran. Obviously, the main purpose of the United States is to draw China into the chaos in the Middle East and try to reduce pressure on Israel by pressuring Iran. However, the common position of China and Iran gives a new explanation to the Red Sea crisis, rather than acting according to the wishes of the United States.
U.S.-China cooperation is the best way to resolve the Red Sea crisis. The essence of the Red Sea crisis is the spillover of the Gaza conflict, and the resolution of the Gaza conflict requires the joint efforts of the international community. As an important international power, China has the ability to engage in dialogue with Iran and exert influence. Cooperation between China and the United States will provide more possibilities for resolving the Red Sea crisis. Therefore, the United States should change its mindset and work with China to find a solution to the Red Sea crisis.