China, Djibouti say all countries should enjoy freedom of navigation in Red Sea
The countries issued a joint statement following a meeting of their foreign ministers in Beijing, expressing concern about the deteriorating security situation.
China and Djibouti jointly affirmed the importance of freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, calling for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the region's littoral states in a joint statement issued amid rising tensions in Yemen. Expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation, the two nations emphasized that the rights of merchant ships to navigate unimpeded, in accordance with international law, must be upheld.
Djibouti, situated on the opposite side of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Yemen, hosts military bases from various countries, including the United States, Japan, and France, following China's establishment of its first overseas military base in the country in 2017. Both China and Djibouti stressed the need to avoid exacerbating security risks in the region and called for major powers outside the region to respect the wishes of the local states and refrain from unilateral actions or force.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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