China supports Saudi-hosted conference to address Yemen crisis
Speaking in Beijing, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said China supports efforts that preserve Yemen’s statehood and welcomes planned discussions among southern Yemeni groups in the Saudi capital. “China supports upholding Yemen’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, welcomes the dialogue among Yemen’s southern factions to be held in Riyadh,” the spokesperson said.
He added that Yemen’s internationally recognized government continues to enjoy broad global legitimacy, noting that the country’s legal authorities are “widely recognized by the international community.”
China urged all Yemeni parties to de-escalate tensions and prioritize political solutions. Beijing, he said, calls on all sides to “remain calm, exercise restraint, resolve differences and disputes through political dialogue and create conditions for early restoration of peace and tranquility in Yemen.”
The spokesperson also praised regional diplomacy, commending Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for “emphasizing respect for each other’s sovereignty and security.”
The comments followed an announcement over the weekend that Saudi Arabia had agreed to host the proposed conference after receiving a request from Yemen’s presidential council chairman, Rashad al-Alimi. The initiative is aimed at formulating a comprehensive framework to address the long-running southern issue.
Several Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, have also publicly voiced support for the Saudi-backed initiative, according to statements.
Yemen has experienced a sharp deterioration in security conditions since last week, after forces aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized control of the provinces of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra in early December. Together, the two regions make up nearly half of Yemen’s land area and border Saudi Arabia.
The developments unfolded amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, after Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of “pushing STC forces to carry out military operations” near the kingdom’s southern border in the two provinces. The UAE has rejected the allegation.
The STC argues that successive Yemeni governments have politically and economically sidelined the south and continues to advocate for secession. Yemen’s official authorities, however, reject these claims and reaffirm their commitment to maintaining the country’s unity.
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