A Chinese satellite company is reportedly providing satellite images to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, which are used to target U.S. naval vessels.
The Financial Times (FT) reported on Thursday, citing U.S. officials, that Chang Guang Satellite
Technology Company provides the Houthi rebels with satellite imagery to identify U.S. warships and multinational targets. The report stated that the U.S. has privately expressed concerns multiple times about China’s support for the Houthi rebels, but China has ignored these warnings. As a result, the U.S. believes the Chinese government is implicitly supporting Chang Guang Satellite.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the report during a briefing, stating that the Chinese government supports Chang Guang Satellite. She added that this highlights the emptiness of China’s claims of supporting peace. She emphasized that President Donald Trump’s priority is restoring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. She warned that the U.S. will not tolerate support for foreign terrorist organizations like the Houthis.
The Iran-backed Houthis have attacked U.S. naval vessels patrolling the area and international shipping routes since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, attempting to assist Hamas.
As a result, the U.S. conducted airstrikes against Houthi military positions in Yemen during the previous Biden administration. Similar incidents of Houthi attacks on U.S. vessels and U.S. airstrikes against the Houthis also occurred during the Trump administration.
On the same day, U.S. Central Command announced it struck the Yemeni port of Ras Isa, which supplies fuel to the Houthis. The U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned the International Bank of Yemen (IBY) for financially supporting the Houthis.
Bruce pointed out that while China portrays itself as a global peace mediator, the Chinese government and companies provide economic and technological support to regimes in Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Iran’s proxy forces.
She claimed the Chinese Communist Party continues to assist these regimes, alleging that China provides dual-use products necessary for Russia to sustain the war in Ukraine and aids North Korea’s ballistic missile development and Iran’s terrorist activities.
