Mid East on brink of extreme danger: Beijing
Beijing, Jan 14:
A Chinese envoy said Friday that the US-led strikes on Yemen do not contribute to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
The United States and Britain have launched strikes against targets in Yemen, further escalating tensions in the Red Sea region. China expresses grave concern over this, said Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
“It is regrettable to see that the blatant military actions taken by the relevant countries against Yemen have not only caused infrastructure destruction and civilian casualties but have also resulted in heightened security risks in the Red Sea. This does not contribute to the protection of the safety and security of commercial vessels and freedom of navigation. The relevant military operations could also undermine the political process in Yemen,” said Zhang.
It must be pointed out that the Security Council has never authorised any state to use force against Yemen, he said, adding that the military actions taken by the relevant countries are at odds with the recently adopted Security Council Resolution 2722.
“The current tense situation in the Red Sea is one of the manifestations of the spillover effects of the conflict in Gaza. Allowing the conflict in Gaza to drag on while expecting it to not spread is wishful thinking and an illusion. What’s more, calling for the prevention of the spillover of the conflict on the one hand while adding fuel to the fire on the other hand by provoking military confrontation is self-contradictory and irresponsible,” said Zhang.
“The Middle East region is already on the brink of extreme danger. The last thing we need at this stage is reckless military adventurism. The first thing we need is calm and restraint to prevent a further expansion of the conflict,” he said.
Germany to send frigate
Meanwhile, Germany will send its frigate Hessen to the Red Sea on February 1 and use its military force to intercept missiles and drones of Yemen’s rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, as part of the upcoming EU naval operation in the region, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported on Saturday.
Germany’s frigate Hessen is equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, a radar reconnaissance system capable of tracking 1,000 targets simultaneously, and attack helicopters, the report said. Until recently, the frigate was involved in NATO exercises in the North Sea and the Arctic for six months, the newspaper reported.
Berlin’s decision to send the frigate will contribute to the EU’s upcoming naval operation in the Red Sea, Welt am Sonntag reported, adding that the bloc was expected to announce its official decision on the establishment of the mission at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers on February 19. The operation itself is scheduled to be launched at the end of February, the report said.
On Monday, lead spokesman for EU foreign affairs Peter Stano said that top EU diplomat Josep Borrell was planning to launch consultations with the bloc’s member states regarding the potential creation of a specific EU mission to the Red Sea amid a surge in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on cargo ships.
