China and Djibouti called for the protection of commercial navigation through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab in a joint communiqué following talks in Beijing on October 21. The statement, published in People’s Daily on October 22, says merchant ships’ rights under international law should be respected while the sovereignty and wishes of coastal states guide regional security arrangements.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Djiboutian Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar linked renewed regional tensions to threats facing trade, investment, energy and food security in the Horn of Africa. They called for dialogue and diplomatic action to prevent the conflict’s further spread.
The ministers also expressed concern about renewed piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. Their statement calls for cooperation by coastal countries and their partners under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. China praised Djibouti’s reception of refugees from Yemen and offered assistance within its capacity.
The communiqué places freedom of navigation and coastal sovereignty within the same diplomatic position. Its publication comes as governments seek to protect maritime traffic while the war across the water disrupts civilian transport and adds to humanitarian needs on both shores.