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China is playing a direct or an indirect role in enhancing the capabilities of the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen, the New Arab reported on June 8.
Western officials told the outlet’s Arabic version, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that the Houthis have increasingly deployed advanced weaponry and systems of Chinese origin, marking a departure from their previous reliance on Russian and Iranian equipment.
The Houthis took over a trove of Soviet and Russian military equipment from the arsenal of the Yemeni army after rebelling in 2014. In later years, the group began to receive Iranian-made equipment from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
According to the New Arab, the recent confrontations with the United States in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea highlighted the group’s improved targeting of Western-made vessels and drones. Mapping and radar technologies linked to Chinese sources were allegedly used.
Last April, the U.S. The State Department accused Chinese satellite firm Chang Guang of providing satellite imagery to the Houthis.
“Chang Guang directly supports Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce at the time. “The company’s support has continued despite repeated appeals to Beijing to halt covert support to the Houthis.”
These accusations were however rejected by China. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in response that he had “no knowledge” of such cooperation and denied that Beijing was undermining regional stability.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed said, citing Yemeni military sources, that government and coalition forces had on several occasions intercepted weapons and components used by the Houthis, with origins traced to Iran and East Asia, including China. Recovered Houthi drones in particular have shown a growing presence of Chinese-made parts.
In March, Conflict Armament Research reported that hydrogen fuel cell components – some made in China – were being smuggled to the Houthis for use in long-range drones.
Chinese-made components are regularly found in Iranian-made systems, thus it is hard to determine if there was any intentional direct or indirect support.
The Houthis have been granting safe passage to all Chinese ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab, all while imposing a strict blockade on Israel-linked shipping and targeting vessels belonging to the U.S., the United Kingdom, France and others.
China stepped up its efforts to strengthen its influence in the Middle East in recent years. The reconciliation brokered by Beijing between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which contributed to the ceasefire between the warring parties in Yemen, was an example of this. Still, it is unclear if China is indeed willing to go as far as military backing groups like the Houthis.
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