China’s geopolitical role in the Red Sea

Solly Rakgomo | Monday April 13, 2026 06:00

Through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal, about 10 to 12 percent of global trade passes through this route each year, including oil, gas, and manufactured goods, which makes it one of the most important sea routes in the world.

Historically, the security and rules and regulations of the Red Sea were largely shaped by regional and extra-regional powers like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United States to safeguard their economic and naval interests. because they wanted their economic and naval advantages. But in recent years, China has started playing a bigger role in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean region.

This step by China is part of its broader economic and strategic plan, especially to protect its oil and trade routes. Now the Red Sea is not just a trade route but a major platform for political and strategic battle.

China’s role in the Red Sea region initially increased not for security reasons but for trade and financial needs. In 2013, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe through road and sea routes.

Under this plan, the Red Sea became very important to China because it connects China to Europe via the Indian Ocean, Bab al-Mandeb, and the Suez Canal.

To take this plan forward, China invested in ports and maritime facilities in many countries connected to the Red Sea.

In Djibouti, Chinese companies played a major role in building the Doraleh Multipurpose Port and the roads connecting it to the interior of Africa. In Egypt, China invested in the Suez Canal Economic Zone to expand manufacturing facilities, improve logistics services, and increase the volume of trade passing through the Suez Canal. China also increased trade with countries like Sudan and Kenya and worked on port-related projects.

All these steps indicate that China aims to secure the sea routes connecting Middle Eastern energy supplies to China and Chinese exports to Europe. Previously, China’s role was limited primarily to trade facilitation and infrastructure, and not to direct security or military matters.

After building its first overseas military facility in Djibouti in 2017, China’s role in the Red Sea expanded beyond trade to include security, naval logistics, and strategic influence.

China officially called it a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) support base and said that it would be used for anti-piracy UN peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid operations. According to China, this is a logistics center that can support its ships and personnel.

The location of this base is very important because Djibouti is located near Bab el-Mandeb. This is a narrow sea route, through which much of the world’s sea trade passes.

Experts say that with this base, Chinese Navy ships can refuel, take on goods, and rest; China’s role in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean has become stronger. Djibouti already has military bases of powerful countries like the U.S. (Camp Lemonnier), France, and Japan, which shows the strategic importance of this area. Even though China says its military role is limited and defensive, many experts believe this base is a major step in China’s evolving security policy.

Through this, China can better protect its interests and maritime trade routes in this unstable region. Apart from trade and security, China’s presence in the Red Sea also reflects its efforts to build long-term influence.

China exerts this influence primarily through finance, development-related work, and diplomacy.

China is strengthening its relations with countries in the region by investing in ports, industrial zones, and transportation routes.

This has created a kind of mutual dependence on China because Chinese investments in countries like Egypt, Djibouti, and Sudan have deepened China’s economic ties with the governments.

For example, China’s participation in Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone has directly linked its industry and shipping networks to one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Similarly, in East Africa, China has expanded its reach along Red Sea trade routes through projects linking ports to the hinterland.

The special thing about these steps is that China is gaining political trust and diplomatic benefits even without showing much military power.

According to analysts at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), this method is part of China’s broader strategy, in which it gradually creates strategic impact through economic cooperation. China formally espouses non-interference and mutual development, but it also maintains a strong hold in key areas.

Therefore, China’s role in the Red Sea should be seen not just from a military perspective but also as an attempt to shape the region’s economic and political relations in the long run.

The Red Sea is already a sensitive area, and the ongoing conflict and political instability have made it even more vulnerable.

Because the biggest conflict in this is the civil war in Yemen, which started in 2014. This was a civil war between the government of Yemen, Houthi fighters, and foreign nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The fighting poses a direct threat to maritime security in the Bab el-Mandeb region and increases the risk to merchant shipping. The situation in Sudan was not good either.

Due to political instability, which was heightened after long-time president Omar al-Bashir was removed from power in 2019.

Later in 2023, armed conflict broke out between different military groups, also affecting the functioning of ports along the Red Sea.

In the same way, the Horn of Africa has faced repeated tensions, and instability in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia has affected the security and maritime order of the entire region.

All these conflicts are of great importance to China, as they threaten the security of its sea routes carrying oil and other goods.

Moreover, instability in countries where China has invested heavily in ports and infrastructure could also threaten its economic interests.

It is therefore very important to understand China’s involvement in the Red Sea not only from a trade or military perspective but also in the context of the insecurity and political situation of the entire region.