Yemen emerging as 'proxy front' in US–China power struggle

Yemen is becoming an emerging front in the wider geopolitical contest between the United States and China, as military and intelligence sources indicate growing Chinese involvement in support of the Houthi movement.

According to sources seen by The New Arab's Arabic sister outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Saturday, Chinese influence in the conflict has intensified in recent months, with Beijing allegedly playing a direct or indirect role in enhancing Houthi capabilities.

The result has been a notable shift in the group’s operational sophistication in its war against the internationally recognised Yemeni government and the Arab coalition backing it.

Western officials told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the Houthis have increasingly deployed advanced weaponry and systems of Chinese origin, marking a departure from their previous reliance on Russian and Iranian arms.

Recent confrontations with the US in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea have highlighted the group’s improved targeting of Western vessels and drones, allegedly using mapping and radar technologies linked to Chinese sources.

In April, the US State Department accused Chinese satellite firm Chang Guang of providing satellite imagery to the Houthis. "Chang Guang directly supports Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on US interests," said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. "The company’s support has continued despite repeated appeals to Beijing to halt covert support to the Houthis."

Bruce added: "Beijing’s continued backing of the company, even after our private discussions, is yet another example of China’s hollow claims to support peace."

China rejected the accusations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said he had "no knowledge" of such cooperation and denied that Beijing was undermining regional stability.

Yemeni military sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that government and coalition forces have on several occasions intercepted weapons and components used by the Houthis, with origins traced to Iran and East Asia, including China. Recovered Houthi drones have shown a growing presence of Chinese-manufactured parts.

In March, Conflict Armament Research reported that hydrogen fuel cell components - some manufactured in China - were being smuggled to the Houthis for use in long-range drones. A May report by the Atlantic Council claimed that while Western commercial ships faced repeated Houthi attacks, vessels marked as Chinese had been allowed to sail through the Red Sea without incident.

The report further alleged that Houthi political leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi coordinated directly with Chinese officials to guarantee safe passage for Chinese vessels, formalising the arrangement during talks in Oman.

"While Houthi officials publicly claim they differentiate between Western and Chinese vessels," the report stated, "their targeting systems remain rudimentary and prone to error ... however, they have shown improvements in targeting accuracy, thanks to Chinese technology."

Despite mounting evidence, the Yemeni government has yet to issue a formal response. A diplomatic source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed:

"This has become urgent given the mounting evidence that the Houthis are relying on Chinese companies. It increasingly appears that China has become involved in proxy wars with the United States in multiple regions and sectors."