China offers support for Yemen government as Xi visits Saudi Arabia

BEIJING // Chinese president Xi Jinping has signalled his country’s support for the Yemeni government during a visit to Saudi Arabia.

A Saudi-led coalition of mainly Arab states began a military campaign last year against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who seized the capital Sanaa. The internationally-recognised government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi is now based in the southern city of Aden.

A growing diplomatic dispute between Saudi Arabia, which is fighting to restore Mr Hadi’s government to power, and Iran – which is backing the Houthis – has damaged the outlook for any resolution to the conflict in Yemen.

Yesterday, Saudi Arabia and China said the two countries affirmed their support for the unity, independence and sovereignty of Yemen. It came after Mr Xi met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh on Tuesday.

They also said that all social, religious and political groups in Yemen should maintain their national solidarity and avoid any decisions that may cause social disruption and chaos.

“Both sides stressed support for the legitimate regime of Yemen,” the nations said.

Mr Xi is also due to visit Iran and Egypt during a five-day trip to the region.

Asked at a daily news briefing whether China was siding with Saudi Arabia over Yemen and whether that could risk upsetting Iran, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing had always acted in the interests of the Yemeni people. It had also always acted in the interests of maintaining peace in the Middle East, and had promoted peace talks, he said.

“[We] hope clashes in Yemen can come to an end as soon as possible and there can be reconciliation so the country can return to stability,” said Mr Hong.

China relies on the region for oil but has tended to leave Middle Eastern diplomacy to the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France and Russia.

However, China has been trying to get more involved, especially in Syria, and recently hosted its foreign minister and opposition officials.

China and Saudi Arabia also expressed deep concern about Syria and renewed a call for a peaceful political settlement as soon as possible.

A Chinese president has not visited Saudi Arabia since Hu Jintao went in 2009. Jiang Zemin was the last Chinese president to visit Iran, in 2002.

Meanwhile, Yemeni security officials said on Wednesday that Oman had closed its two border crossings with Yemen over fears of militant attacks, leaving Yemenis largely sealed off from the outside world.

Three security officials from the eastern province of Mahra, which borders Oman, said the closure took place earlier this year, but did not give specific dates.

The crossings were the only unrestricted passage still open for Yemenis.

Militants have taken advantage of the security vacuum in Yemen to capture territory and expand their reach.

In April, Al Qaeda’s Yemeni affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), seized Mukalla, the capital of Hadramawt province. ISIL-linked militants, meanwhile, have claimed responsibility for some of the bloodiest attacks against government officials and rebels.

A drone strike believed to have been carried out by the United States killed two AQAP suspects in south-east Yemen, military sources said on Wednesday.

The unidentified suspects were travelling in a vehicle in the town of Qoton in Hadramawt province when they were targeted.

The United States is the only country known to operate armed drones over Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition has not targeted militants so far. But Yemeni prime minister Khaled Bahah said on Tuesday that confronting the extremists was inevitable in the future.

* Agencies