An examination of Chinese cargo seized en route to a Houthi-controlled Yemeni port has revealed a range of commercial goods and equipment that can also be used in the production of ballistic missiles and drones, Bloomberg reports.
Weapons experts examined the contents of a shipping container at a warehouse in the southern Yemeni port of Aden. The container had been transported aboard a commercial vessel bound for Hodeida, a Red Sea port controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi movement.
The cargo, which had remained under guard for months, included industrial machinery, chemicals and various components shipped from China. While some items appeared to have legitimate commercial applications, others could potentially be used for military purposes.
The Houthis have developed capabilities to produce missiles and drones using equipment and components of Chinese origin. The movement has received commercial and dual-use goods that can be repurposed to support military production.
Among the seized items were stabilizers and other components that could be used in assembling ballistic missiles or drones. The shipment also contained phenolic resin, a heat-resistant material used in missile manufacturing.
Yemeni authorities have intercepted several such shipments, providing indications that the Houthis’ military-industrial capabilities have expanded with the help of equipment and spare parts originating in China.
However, many of the products have dual-use applications and can serve both civilian and military purposes. As a result, their supply does not necessarily constitute a violation of the UN arms embargo on the Houthis. There is also no evidence that the Chinese companies involved were aware of the ultimate destination or intended use of their products.
Another shipment reportedly contained computer-controlled machine tools capable of producing components used in drones, missiles and other weapons. It also included two-cylinder engines similar to those used in drones, as well as earthmoving and ventilation equipment that could potentially be used in the construction of underground tunnels.
Weapons experts said the concentration of numerous potentially sensitive items in a single shipment points to an increasingly diversified procurement network supporting the Houthis’ military capabilities.
By Vafa Guliyeva
