China, Russia, and Iran plan joint naval maneuvers in March. The announcement comes as a Washington-led coalition intensifies pressure on Houthi targets, underscoring contrasting positions among major powers in the Middle East crisis.
The drills are described as a move to bolster regional security, according to the commander of the Iranian Naval Forces, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani. Tasnim News Agency, a public institution, uses the term war games and notes that observers from Pakistan, Brazil, India, and South Africa may participate. While the exact scenario remains unclear, analysts anticipate the Gulf of Oman as a likely theater, reflecting where similar exercises were held last year. Those exercises lasted several days and included live-fire drills and tests aimed at repelling terrorist activities and cyber threats. The broader regional context adds symbolic weight to the upcoming maneuvers.
The United States has launched a third round of airstrikes against targets tied to the Houthis in Yemen. Washington justifies strikes on commercial ships in the Red Sea, while the Houthis frame the actions as retaliation for the suffering of Gazans. The crisis that has drawn in China shows no signs of ending. While no cargo ships were hit, several shipping lines, including the giant Cosco, halted passage through the corridor. No nation bears a heavier economic impact than the world’s largest trading state, yet Beijing has kept a cautious stance amid high sea tariffs. China views the Houthi actions as a ripple from the Israel-Palestine conflict, driven in part by Western powers, especially after efforts toward a ceasefire proposal were blocked. Some observers forecast that further bombings could intensify the broader conflict. Iran denounced the attacks as repeated violations of Yemen’s sovereignty and a breach of international law, calling the ongoing assaults a flagrant political gamble that threatens international peace and security.
Washington’s outreach to Beijing
Washington has pressed Beijing to urge Tehran to rein in the Houthi movement, with the Red Sea ranking as a top priority in recent discussions. Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, and Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, were involved in talks. A White House spokesman suggested that direct conversations with Iranian leaders might achieve outcomes the United States cannot secure alone. Reports indicate a pattern of repeated requests by American officials over the past months.
The United States has historical reasons for seeking Chinese involvement when global tensions erupt around Russia, North Korea, or Iran. Beijing maintains closer ties with these governments than Washington does, yet it may overestimate its leverage over the foreign policies of sovereign states while still striving to protect its own interests.
China’s real influence on Tehran could become clearer soon. Reuters reported last week that Beijing has been quietly testing options and asked Iranian representatives to contribute to efforts to reduce hostilities at sea. A source in Tehran described China as signaling that if its commercial interests are harmed, Beijing would seek to influence Tehran’s approach with the Houthis. The idea of moderation was raised in conversations as a potential path to stability, suggesting that Beijing seeks a balance between maintaining its economic ties and supporting regional stability.