China has held direct talks with Yemen’s Houthis to secure safe passage for Chinese oil tankers through the Red Sea. The move comes after the Houthis threatened ships linked to Saudi ports amid the Iran conflict. Beijing is getting individual clearance from the Houthis for its vessels, while other tankers have rerouted due to security fears. At least four Saudi-to-China oil tankers have passed through the Bab el-Mandeb strait since the restrictions began. Source: Reuters