On Tuesday, the leader of the Houthi regime in western Yemen threatened to resume attacks on Israel if the cease-fire with Hamas breaks down. Yesterday, he gave another televised speech promising the same if there is any attempt to displace Gazans. The Iran-backed terrorist group has proved itself to be both powerful and able to withstand Israeli and American attacks over the past year. It owes some its success to Chinese assistance, explain Tuvia Gering and Jason M. Brodsky.
How does China support the Houthis? To begin with, it does so by purchasing large quantities of Iranian oil. . . . Over the past four years, Iran exported a total of nearly 1.98 billion barrels of oil, and its annual oil exports have quadrupled during the Biden administration. China is Iran’s biggest customer, with more than 90 percent of Iran’s exports going to China in 2024.
China appears to be supporting the Houthis beyond Iranian oil revenue, too. U.S. intelligence sources recently told Israeli media that since November 2023, the Houthis have used Chinese-made components to target Red Sea vessels in exchange for immunity for Chinese-flagged ships. This comes after multiple U.S. Treasury announcements in 2024, which added a dozen Chinese, Iranian, and Houthi entities to the U.S. sanctioned lists for acquiring, funding, smuggling, and providing dual-use and military-grade materials to the Houthis.
Beijing [also] maintains unofficial ties with the Houthis. Since 2015, it has taken part in United Nations-sponsored peace talks, and it hosted a Houthi delegation in 2016. In 2023, the Houthis signed an economic agreement with China’s Anton Oilfield Group, which was terminated shortly thereafter.
Read more on Atlantic Council: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/china-is-supporting-the-houthis-heres-how-the-trump-administration-can-respond/