Yemen government says it raised Houthis’ alleged use of Chinese tech with Beijing

The Yemeni government has spoken with Beijing about the Houthis’ alleged attempts to utilise Chinese-made technology for weapons, a Yemeni minister said on Wednesday, as the two sides’ long-running civil war escalates.

“The Chinese are partners and we have discussed with them about, you know, the use of dual products,” Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba said in response to an Agence France-Presse question about reports the Iran-backed group was trying to secure Chinese components to help manufacture weapons.

“They were very keen for any sort of information so they can investigate it. Their support to the Yemeni government is clear,” Zouba added.

The minister spoke to journalists via a virtual press conference to address the war in Yemen, which has also drawn in the government’s main backer, Saudi Arabia.

The comments came after a recent report by the Conflict Armament Research group (CAR) alleged that the Houthis were attempting to produce advanced medium-range ballistic missiles.

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CAR also suggested the group was “expanding its supply chains beyond Iran-linked supply networks, with several purpose-built missile components found alongside shipping documents that listed a Chinese supplier”.

AFP has been unable to independently verify the allegations made in the report.

The Houthis have used their arsenal of drones and ballistic and cruise missiles to target Yemeni government forces and civilian infrastructure in neighbouring Saudi Arabia to deadly effect as fighting flares following the collapse of a truce in July.

The Houthis boasted of hitting Saudi oil giant Aramco’s facilities overnight, as well as recent attacks targeting the Riyadh airport, which have killed at least 18 people since October 7.

Houthi attacks have also targeted oil tankers in the Red Sea – Saudi Arabia’s alternative export route following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the wider Middle East war.

China has long been one of the largest buyers of Saudi crude.

A Saudi-led coalition has supported Yemen’s government militarily against the Houthis since 2015 in a civil war that has created a dire humanitarian crisis in the impoverished country.