Shannon Brandao
Shannon's excerpt from the article: "Isaac Kardon and Jennifer Kavanagh, NYT [excerpt]: #China, with a #trade-led economy dependent on the free flow of commerce through chokepoints like the Bab el-Mandeb strait off Yemen, relies on the United States to protect #international sea lanes. The U.S.-led #military response to the Houthi militia attacks on international #shipping may not ultimately be the answer to the current crisis — the Houthis, so far, appear undeterred — but the United States has at least demonstrated a clear commitment to keeping open vital trade routes that connect China to the #MiddleEast and #Europe.
Rather than acting like the global leader it purports to be, China has made no appreciable move to shoulder the costs or risks of ensuring security in the Red Sea, despite having its sole declared overseas military base in Djibouti, adjacent to the strait. Nor has it publicly offered a viable alternative to America’s actions. Instead, it seems content to largely sit back and offer veiled criticism of the U.S. military response.
Beijing is playing a cynical game, free-riding on the same American power that it holds in contempt, trying to have it both ways.
...The #UnitedStates must call out China for its duplicity and pressure it to start acting like a responsible power — and in its own self-interest — by sharing some of the burden of protecting trade routes and using its influence on #Iran to end the Houthi attacks on shipping.
Chinese leaders aspire to greater status in the region. President #XiJinping has promised to 'contribute Chinese wisdom to promoting peace and tranquillity in the Middle East' and has unveiled a raft of corresponding security and development initiatives in recent years. In reality, however, China’s actions in the Middle East are driven partly by a desire to challenge U.S. power. In the Israel-Gaza war, for instance, China has joined Russia and Iran in throwing nominal support behind Hamas and refusing to denounce the group’s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.
The deteriorating security situation in the Middle East shows how ineffectual Mr. Xi’s promotion of peace and tranquillity has been, and it’s coming back to bite China. About half of its imported oil comes from the Middle East, and the Red Sea provides critical access to Europe, one of China’s largest export markets. Even with the Houthis giving a pass to ships flying the Chinese flag, the country’s shipping and exporters are being squeezed by the commercial disruption.
A prolonged regional crisis could heighten pressure on the Communist Party at home, where its economy already faces strong headwinds and can ill afford the risks of tangled supply chains and soaring shipping and insurance rates. In the longer-term, Beijing’s reputation may suffer if it comes off looking like an opportunistic non-player in the region."
#news #business #geopolitics