It’s not the US but CHINA that’s most pissed of at the Houthis.

Summary

China is concerned about the Houthis' actions in the Red Sea due to the potential disruption to global trade and Chinese business interests, despite not being as publicly vocal as the US.

Abstract

The Houthis' recent actions have not only provoked the US but also raised concerns in China, a superpower typically focused on protecting its business interests. While China has not reacted with the same public intensity as the US, it is carefully monitoring the situation, particularly due to the strategic importance of the Red Sea for global trade, including the transport of Chinese goods. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index's significant rise reflects increased trade costs for China. China's silence is attributed to its policy of non-interference, concern over provoking the Muslim world, and the shifting power dynamics in the Middle East, with Iran's growing influence. The article suggests that China's stance may soon be tested as the conflict escalates and could potentially force Beijing to take a more definitive position.

Opinions

The Houthis' actions are seen as a direct threat to China's economic interests, particularly in the Red Sea, a crucial corridor for international trade.
China has been supportive of UN resolutions to classify the Houthis as a terrorist group, indicating its view of the group as destabilizing and not aligned with Chinese interests.
The article implies that China's cautious approach is strategic, aiming to avoid antagonizing the Muslim world or being perceived as aligned with Israel, which could harm its business interests.
The potential for a regional war involving Iran is a significant concern for China, as it could further disrupt trade routes and oil supplies that China relies on.
China's preference for diplomacy and non-interference is highlighted as a key reason for its muted response to the Houthis' actions, contrasting with the US's more aggressive stance.
The article suggests that China is aware of the risks to its shipping in the region, especially as European nations consider deploying a coalition, which could lead to Chinese ships becoming targets.
The shifting allegiances in the Middle East, with Iran gaining influence at the expense of Saudi Arabia, are seen as limiting China's ability to openly criticize the Houthis without risking its economic relationships.

For Beijing, they hate anything that undermines their business.

Xi Jingping

The Houthis have done something no country has done recently it’s pissed a superpower, USA and they have responded to bombing Yemen. But it has also pissed off another superpower, that you may not realise and it’s China and the reason why China isn’t freaking out right now like the US, is because they are being very cautious with their approach as well as being rightly pissed off.

According to this article, The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, a benchmark for transporting imported goods from China, has seen a substantial rise — 161%, indicating higher costs for China’s global trade. The article also highlighted 3 in which chinese interests will be harmed, all of which have occurred already:

The US-led coalition could conduct a major military offensive to end Houthi control of al-Hudaydah, a strategic port on the Red Sea, and redesignate the Houthis as a terrorist organization.

Alternatively, it could carry out targeted strikes on the Houthis’ inland missile launching sites, command and control headquarters and naval capabilities.

Both military responses risk triggering a regional war, with Iran’s direct participation — increasing anger among regional populations, as the US will be increasingly seen to be fighting Israel’s war.

We have seen the Chinese reiterate a two-state solution for Palestine, the same line America touts, which means for them they accept a Saudi and UAE led Palestine, opposite to what the axis of resistance want and what Russia currently as well. This divergence of goals paints a clear picture on the position of where everyone stands. US and Chinese interests in the Middle East is interlinked.

Another reason why China would be pissed is because the Red Sea is a maritime corridor linking Asia, Africa and Europe. Around 10% of international trade and 40% of Asia and Europe trade flows through the Red Sea, making it one of the most crucial arteries for global commerce. In short for the Chinese the Red Sea is a major gateway for Chinese products to enter African, European, Arab, and American markets due to its strategic location on the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, passing through the Suez Canal.

Not just that China relies heavily on imported oil and gas. The fact that the Red Sea is close to where most of the world’s gas and oil are extracted provides more reason for it to be protected. It hurts China whenever these “Chokepoints” are disrupted, affecting the global supply chain in the process.

For China the Houthis are terrorists and it has spent the last two years supporting whatever UN resolutions to classify it as a terrorist group. Showing that that Houthi’s clearly unnerve Beijing and it doesn’t see them as allies. When the US designated them as terrorists, Beijing didn’t come to their defence, they only emphasised the fact that regional stability was at risk, which basically means Chinese interests.

Though the Houthis were only attacking Israeli ships at the start, since the bombing of Yemen , they’ve began hitting US and UK ships as well, which costs China considering both countries rely Chinese industries and goods. But more than that, they see their efforts in the Middle East, the Saudi-Iran brokered truce to be at risk of breaking down and affecting their business.

And they’re not Idiots, they know the Houthis aren’t attacking Chinese ships as of yet, but when Europe plans to deploy it’s coalition in the Middle East things are going to be heating up and the Chinese ships will be at risk of being targetted. The same Chinese ships that are headed to Europe.

But why are they so quiet? Their interests are in danger and they’re not flexing their muscles?

One of the main reasons why they’re so quiet, is because they follow the policy of non-interference. Unlike the US, they like to let states and nations handle their own matters privately without interfering too much and instead prefer the diplomatic approach.

Another reason is that they don’t want to provoke the Muslim world yet. The Houthis are seen as the heroes of the Muslim world and they don’t want to go against that Hero image and be seen standing next to Israel. They’ve seen what happened to McDonalds and Starbucks, how they’ve been boycotted and they fear the same happening to them.

Another reason is the fact that Iran’s influence is growing within the region. Had Saudi Arabia still retained it’s influence over the region, there would’ve been some room for them to condemn the Houthis, instead of being neutral. As Saudi’s declining influence in the Middle East and within the Muslim world is prevalent due to the normalisation of Israel, they’re not the golden goose anymore. That title goes to Iran.

As of right now, China is playing it safe from the sidelines, but soon when the entire west comes crashing down into the Red Sea, Beijin will need to pick a side. Will it stand with the east or join the west.