China Calls on Houthis to Abandon Military Option, Return to Dialogue

Shao Zheng, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Yemen (Photo: Saad al-Anzi)
Shao Zheng, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Yemen (Photo: Saad al-Anzi)
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China Calls on Houthis to Abandon Military Option, Return to Dialogue

Shao Zheng, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Yemen (Photo: Saad al-Anzi)
Shao Zheng, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Yemen (Photo: Saad al-Anzi)

Shao Zheng, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Yemen, said that the Yemeni crisis was going through a sensitive and important stage that is fraught with many opportunities and challenges at the same time.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, he called on the Yemeni parties to seize opportunities to achieve peace as soon as possible.

According to Zheng, challenges include lack of trust between the Yemeni parties and the worsening humanitarian and economic conditions in Yemen.

The Chinese official stressed that his country has a strong desire to contribute to achieving peace in Yemen through various channels, pointing to the importance of the positive atmosphere and efforts of reconciliation witnessed in the Arab region during the last period.

Yemen enjoys opportunities and faces challenges at the same time, he said. According to him, there are three opportunities ahead. The first is that after eight years of war, the aspirations of the Yemeni people for peace have become greater.

Secondly, relations between the countries of the region have become better, as China has succeeded in mediating between Saudi Arabia and Iran to conduct discussions in Beijing and reach an agreement to normalize relations.

The third opportunity, according to the Chinese official, is the negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, which have achieved some results in some areas.

He hoped the negotiations will bring more benefits and progress in order to lay a solid foundation for peace in the future.

However, Zheng pointed to a number of challenges facing peace in Yemen.

He said mutual trust between the different parties is still lacking and needs more time to be restored. Secondly, the process of improving relations between the countries of the region is still fragile; and third, the humanitarian and economic conditions in Yemen are worsening, and cannot be solved overnight.

Zheng emphasized that China was working to achieve peace in the world through its global security initiative, indicating that its success in mediating between Saudi Arabia and Iran to normalize relations was the best evidence of the implementation of this initiative.

The Chargé d’Affaires stressed that Beijing appreciated the Saudi-Omani efforts to achieve peace in the war-torn country.

Asked whether the Chinese government had any relations with the Houthis, he replied that China supports the Yemeni legitimate government, and calls on the various Yemeni parties to sit at the negotiating table as soon as possible to launch the peace talks.

Zheng pointed to the long history of economic an investment cooperation between his country and Yemen, saying that one of the most important Chinese projects was the Hodeidah-Sanaa road, which was built with the help of China.

He added that the number of giant Chinese projects in Yemen before the 2015 war reached about 100, pointing out that these companies were forced to withdraw in the wake of the war.

In this context, the official revealed that Chinese companies have a desire to participate in the reconstruction of the country.

The volume of trade exchange between the two countries is currently at $3 billion, while the volume of trade exchange between China and the Arab countries exceeds than $400 billion, he said.

Today, there are about 30,000 Yemenis living in China, most of whom are merchants, who form a bridge linking China to Yemen, he added.



Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Yemen’s Defense Minister, Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri, does not expect Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea to stop even if the Gaza war ends. He also warns of rising tensions in the region, which could lead to a major conflict.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Daeri affirmed close coordination between Yemeni forces and the Saudi-led Arab Coalition. He praised Saudi Arabia’s key role in the coalition, highlighting its continuous support for Yemen.

Al-Daeri said there has been significant progress in unifying government-aligned military forces, with committees set up by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) establishing a joint operations authority.

Despite challenges, he remains optimistic that these efforts will help unify the military command against the common enemy — Yemen’s Houthi militias.

Al-Daeri warned that Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea are a serious threat to Yemen and the region. He noted that the Houthis are using these attacks to distract from their internal problems and are trying to capitalize on Yemeni sympathy for Palestine by claiming support for Gaza.

He added that the Houthis are unlikely to stop targeting international shipping, even if the Gaza war ends, and are constantly seeking new alliances with terrorist groups to strengthen their position.

Al-Daeri, accused Iran of fueling instability in Yemen by supporting Houthi militias for years, smuggling weapons and military experts to spread chaos without regard for regional stability.

On US relations, Al-Daeri said ties are good but military cooperation remains limited. He noted that US military aid, suspended in 2014, has not yet returned to previous levels.

Al-Daeri said his visit to Saudi Arabia was part of ongoing coordination with the Joint Operations Command and the Saudi Ministry of Defense to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries.

During his “productive” visit, Al-Daeri met with several military leaders, congratulated the new commander of the Joint Operations, Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Salman, and held talks with officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition.

Al-Daeri emphasized the strong defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, particularly during Yemen’s war in recent years.

He noted that the high level of coordination with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Arab Coalition members has significantly improved regional military readiness.

Al-Daeri said relations with Saudi Arabia are growing stronger, with both countries working closely together to fulfill their missions in the region.

He described defense cooperation as being at its peak, praising Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Arab Coalition.

“Saudi Arabia has always provided full support—military, financial, and moral. As the region’s strongest power, they have supported Yemen not just with resources, but also with strategic expertise and by fighting alongside us, even sacrificing their lives for our cause,” Al-Daeri told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said Houthi militias have taken advantage of the ceasefire and the Saudi-led initiative, which later became a UN effort, to conduct hostile activities and assert their presence.

He referred to the Houthis’ actions as creating a “massive prison” for millions of Yemenis who do not want to live in their controlled areas.

Al-Daeri, described the situation in the region as dangerous, pointing to recent events in Gaza and Lebanon as signs of increasing tensions. He warned of the risk of an unprecedented regional war due to the rising violence and conflicts.

“What is happening is very alarming, especially with the recent events, including terrorist militias in Yemen, the unacceptable violence in Gaza over the past year, and the situation in southern Lebanon. This all signals the risk of an unusual war,” said al-Daeri.

Regarding potential outcomes, al-Daeri noted that Yemeni forces are ready for both war and peace. He acknowledged significant efforts to achieve peace but warned that renewed conflict could occur at any moment. He also pointed out ongoing provocations from Houthis, which continue to lead to casualties.

"We are ready for all options and have comprehensive strategic plans for deploying our forces. The past two years have seen a ceasefire, and the Arab Coalition is making significant efforts to achieve peace rather than resorting to war. However, this does not mean that conflict won’t resume; it could restart at any time,” explained al-Daeri.

“Despite the ceasefire and the presence of our forces, the legitimate troops have not fired back, yet the militias provoke us daily, resulting in casualties,” he added.

“Patience is a key quality of the legitimate authority in Yemen, led by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and his colleagues in the Presidential Leadership Council. This patience reflects our readiness for the moment of truth, whether for peace or war—we are prepared,” asserted al-Daeri.