China’s Views on Solving the Yemeni Issue Within the Framework of Global Security Initiative

Abstract

AbstractYemen is a traditional friendly country of China and an important partner of China in the Arabian Peninsula. As a result of the recurring conflicts in Yemen, its economic situation has been deteriorating. China’s bilateral trade volume and direct investment with Yemen have been directly affected by the war in Yemen and have fluctuated significantly. The security and happiness of the Yemeni people and the effective protection of people’s rights cannot be achieved without stable internal social relations and a peaceful external environment. In 2022, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI), calling on countries to adapt to the profoundly changing international landscape in the spirit of solidarity, and to address security challenges with a win-win mindset. In 2023, China releases the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper. China’s idea for solving the Yemen issue is a theoretical and institutional reflection on war, peace and development based on a reflexion of the unequal world hegemonic order, centreing on equality and the care for humanity.Keywords: Yemen IssueGlobal Security Initiative Disclosure StatementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 ‘Director-General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Foreign Ministry Shen Bo Meets with Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen Hans Grundberg’, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, (26 May 2023), available at: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjbxw/202305/t20230527_11084714.html; ‘Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issues Zhai Jun Meets with Ambassador of Yemen to China Dr. Mohammed Al-Maitami’, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, (13 April 2023), available at: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjbxw/202304/t20230417_11060201.html.2 Su Ying and Huang Minxing, ‘Political Islamic Movement and the Nation-State Rebuilding in Yemen’, Arab World Studies 3, (2016), p. 16; Su Ying and Huang Minxing, ‘An Analysis of Regionalism in Yemen form the Perspective of State Governance’, West Asia and Africa 2, (2017), p. 130.3 Liu Zhongmin and Ren Hua, ‘The Evolution, Cause and Impacts of Extremist Organizations in Yemen’, Arab World Studies 2, (2017), p. 3.4 Zhu Quangang, ‘The Rise of Multiple Armed Forces in Yemen and Its Governance Predicament’, Arab World Studies 4, (2019), p. 36.5 Pu Yao and Tang Binjun, ‘Tribal Factors in Yemen’s Political Crisis’, Arab World Studies 6, (2016), p. 77; Wu Tianyu and Wu Bingbing, ‘The Rise and Decline of Zaydis in Yemen and Political Struggle of Houthis’, Arab World Studies 3, (2018), p. 48; Su Ying and Huang Minxing, ‘The Tribe-State Relationship in Yemen from the Perspective of Social Anomie Theory’, Arab World Studies 4, (2019), p. 70.6 Dong Manyuan, ‘The Yemen Crisis: Impacts and Prospects’, China International Studies 5, (2012), p. 67; LIU Xinlu, ‘Development Trend of Yemen Crisis’, Journal of International and Regional Studies 3, (2017), p. 124.7 ‘Joint Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations and exchange of diplomatic envoys between China and Yemen’, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China 15, (2000), available at: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/2675_665437/2908_663816/2909_663818/200011/t20001115_536577.html.8 Shi Yanchun, Chinese Ambassador to the Middle East, The Middle East—Yemen (Beijing: World Knowledge Press, 2012), p. 242.9 ‘Eight Yemenis Killed, Saleh Sees Russian, Chinese Support’, Reuters, (16 October 2011), available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-protest/eight-yemenis-killed-saleh-sees-russian-chinese-support-idUSTRE79F0S720111016.10 Jamal Abdullah, ‘Geopolitical Context of Operation Decisive Strom and GCC States’ Attitudes toward It’, Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, (30 April 2015), available at: https://studies.aljazeera.net/sites/default/files/articles/reports/documents/2015430123234636734Geopolitical%20context%20of%20Operation%20Decisive%20Storm%20.pdf.11 ‘Chinese Government Assists in Evacuation National of 10 Countries Including Pakistan from Yemen’, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, (3 April 2015), available at: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/2675_665437/2908_663816/2910_663820/201504/t20150407_536621.html.12 James T. 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