China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, underscored that attacks on Yemen run counter to the latest Security Council directive and risks undermining regional stability. The statement was reported by RIA Novosti and echoed by Beijing as it urged restraint and compliance with international law.
Zhang emphasized that the ongoing military actions by certain states violate the recently adopted United Nations Security Council resolution 2722. He urged all parties to avoid misreading or misapplying international law and to refrain from raising tensions in the Red Sea region, which could jeopardize civilian lives and hinder humanitarian relief efforts. This line of thought reflects China’s long-standing position that the Council’s decisions should guide cross-border actions and that responsible behavior is essential during a volatile period in Yemen.
The Chinese position was articulated during an emergency session of the UN Security Council convened at the request of Russia to address the strikes carried out by the United States and its allies against targets in Yemen. The discussion highlighted international concerns about escalation, civilian harm, and the risk of disrupting aid deliveries to civilians caught in the conflict.
Former Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, noted that the United States and the United Kingdom had chosen to act in ways that he contended violated the council’s resolution concerning the Red Sea. He warned that such steps could set a dangerous precedent for how external powers engage in regional hostilities and warned against unilateral moves that bypass the authority of the Security Council.
There were additional signals from Yemen’s Houthi leadership indicating a readiness to tighten actions against merchant traffic in the Red Sea at a stated cadence, raising concerns in the international community about the security of vital shipping lanes. The rhetoric pointed to the fragility of maritime corridors in the region and the potential for escalation if diplomatic channels fail to produce a durable pause in fighting.