3 ms·

Currently they only disrupt shipping to Israel, or linked to Israel, as far as I understand. Indiscriminate targeting/disruption would raise eyebrows in Beijin

Currently they only disrupt shipping to Israel, or linked to Israel, as far as I understand. Indiscriminate targeting/disruption would raise eyebrows in Beijing and I am sure Iran does not want that.

WJW 3y ago
Sorry but have you read the news lately? Because the attacks have been rather indiscriminate, EVERY big shipping company is now refusing to sail their ships through the Red sea and by extension cannot use the Suez canal anymore. Rather, they have to take the long way around Africa now. This adds a lot of extra cost and shipping delay.
- jakupovic 3y ago
  You should read the proclamation ...
  - JumpCrisscross 3y ago
    Actions over words. The Houthis are indiscriminately targeting trade. If they had the discipline to only hit Israeli ships, this would be a different situation.
- mytailorisrich 3y ago
  The point remains that at some point that will impact China because that's where most of the containers come from. Then what? Again China is really the last country Iran should want to piss off. Or, that'll benefit Chinese shipping companies as, again, I highly doubt that they'll be targeted. The US are probably the least impacted, if at all.
  - maxglute 3y ago
    COSCO hasn't released news they'll stop red sea shipping. TBH if Houthis only targetted western shipping it would be slight competitive advantage to PRC. The potential blowback is if US pressures Iran and threatens 1m barrels of of Iranian oil to PRC.
    - mytailorisrich 3y ago
      Yes, I suspect Chinese companies have "immunity". But overall Chinese exports can still be impacted if the major Western shipping companies stop going through those waters. So there might a balance to maintain if Iran wants to avoid a call from Beijing.
      - maxglute 3y ago
        I think PRC influence over situation is limited. I suspect this is as much Iran flexing (Houthi missiles of Iranian origin) their new regional power projection capabilities, and due to current energy geopolitics, betting no one wants to stir the pot any further. They want everyone to know they can now credibly escalate in region, regardless of PRC ire.
biggc 3y ago
Did you read the article? It says that none of the ships targeted so far had anything to do with Israel
- mytailorisrich 3y ago
  Does it? Well that's obviously not true. The first one that made the news when it was commandeered is Israeli-owned and I believe that all the ships targeted since have some links with Israel. The effect is that everyone is thinking twice before sailing through those waters, though.

Currently they only disrupt shipping to Israel, or linked to Israel, as far as I understand. Indiscriminate targeting/disruption would raise eyebrows in Beijing and I am sure Iran does not want that.

WJW 3y ago

Sorry but have you read the news lately? Because the attacks have been rather indiscriminate, EVERY big shipping company is now refusing to sail their ships through the Red sea and by extension cannot use the Suez canal anymore. Rather, they have to take the long way around Africa now. This adds a lot of extra cost and shipping delay.

jakupovic 3y ago
You should read the proclamation ...
- JumpCrisscross 3y ago
  Actions over words. The Houthis are indiscriminately targeting trade. If they had the discipline to only hit Israeli ships, this would be a different situation.
mytailorisrich 3y ago
The point remains that at some point that will impact China because that's where most of the containers come from. Then what? Again China is really the last country Iran should want to piss off. Or, that'll benefit Chinese shipping companies as, again, I highly doubt that they'll be targeted. The US are probably the least impacted, if at all.
- maxglute 3y ago
  COSCO hasn't released news they'll stop red sea shipping. TBH if Houthis only targetted western shipping it would be slight competitive advantage to PRC. The potential blowback is if US pressures Iran and threatens 1m barrels of of Iranian oil to PRC.
  - mytailorisrich 3y ago
    Yes, I suspect Chinese companies have "immunity". But overall Chinese exports can still be impacted if the major Western shipping companies stop going through those waters. So there might a balance to maintain if Iran wants to avoid a call from Beijing.
    - maxglute 3y ago
      I think PRC influence over situation is limited. I suspect this is as much Iran flexing (Houthi missiles of Iranian origin) their new regional power projection capabilities, and due to current energy geopolitics, betting no one wants to stir the pot any further. They want everyone to know they can now credibly escalate in region, regardless of PRC ire.

biggc 3y ago

Did you read the article? It says that none of the ships targeted so far had anything to do with Israel

mytailorisrich 3y ago
Does it? Well that's obviously not true. The first one that made the news when it was commandeered is Israeli-owned and I believe that all the ships targeted since have some links with Israel. The effect is that everyone is thinking twice before sailing through those waters, though.