China, Djibouti say all countries should enjoy freedom of navigation in Red Sea
China and Djibouti said in a joint statement after their foreign ministers met in Beijing that all countries should enjoy freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, expressing concern about the deteriorating security situation. The statement, released early on Oct 22, stressed that merchant ships of all countries should have their navigation rights under international law respected and that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and wishes of Red Sea littoral states should be genuinely respected. It also said major powers outside the region should avoid resorting to force and unilateral sanctions, as the US State Department ordered some diplomats and family members to depart missions in Saudi Arabia after fighting in Yemen escalated.
Why it matters: The statement ties freedom of navigation in the Red Sea to maritime security and to the competing external military presence at Bab el-Mandeb.