- China held direct talks with Yemen’s Houthi movement to secure safe passage for its oil tankers through the southern Red Sea after the Houthis vowed to block access to Saudi ports.
- Beijing appears to be clearing vessels individually with the Houthis — some tankers have still made the transit, while others (for example the New Champion and New Prime) turned back to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb.
- The episode shows how countries are scrambling to keep oil flowing amid Middle East tensions — rerouting around Africa can add weeks to a voyage (roughly 16 days via Bab el-Mandeb vs about 50 days around Africa).
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