President,

Based on the current situation in the Red Sea and Yemen and in line with its consistent position, China abstained in the voting of draft resolution just put to vote. I would like to explain China's position as follows.

First, the tensions in the Red Sea have re-escalated recently. A new round of hostilities has erupted between Israel and the Houthis, and the Houthis have resumed attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, resulting in casualties. China is deeply concerned by this development. At present, the situation in the Red Sea and Yemen remains fragile and tense. All parties concerned should exercise calm and restraint and refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions. We call on the Houthis to respect the navigational rights of commercial vessels of all countries in the Red Sea in accordance with international law, to cease attacks on commercial vessels, and to safeguard the security of the Red Sea waterways.

Second, China abstained in the voting of Council Resolution 2722 regarding the situation in the Red Sea and its subsequent extensions. After the adoption of Resolution 2722, certain countries took military actions against Yemen, severely undermining the Yemeni peace process and exacerbating tensions in the Red Sea, with negative effects that persist to this day. I would like to stress that Security Council resolutions should not be misinterpreted or abused, and the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Yemen must be respected.

Third, the tensions in the Red Sea are a significant manifestation of the spillover of the Gaza conflict. The resolution of the issues in the Red Sea and Yemen cannot be achieved without easing tensions and de-escalating the overall situation in the region. The international community must act with a greater sense of urgency to promote an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and fully restore humanitarian access. China stands ready to work with all parties to achieve positive outcomes at the High-Level Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution scheduled for the end of this month.

Thank you, President.