Houthi Attacks on Japanese and Chinese Ships in the Red Sea
The Houthi militant group, based in Yemen, has conducted attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023, primarily targeting vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., and the UK. However, ships associated with
Japan and China have also been affected, often due to misidentification or outdated ownership records. Below is an analysis of key incidents involving Japanese and Chinese ships.
Attacks on Japanese-Linked Vessels
- Hijacking of the Galaxy Leader (November 2023)
- The Houthis seized the Galaxy Leader, a Bahamas-flagged but Japanese-operated vehicle carrier, claiming it had ties to Israel through partial ownership by an Israeli businessman (Al Jazeera).
- The ship’s 25 crew members (from Bulgaria, the Philippines, Mexico, and Ukraine) remain detained in Yemen as of early 2025 (Reuters).
- Japan’s government has repeatedly demanded their release, calling the seizure unlawful (BBC News).
- Missile Strike on AOM Sophie II (December 2023)
- The Japanese-owned, Panama-flagged container ship was hit by a Houthi missile despite having no verifiable Israeli links (The Guardian).
- The Houthis later justified the attack by alleging the ship was heading to an Israeli port, though maritime tracking data disproved this (Maritime Executive).
Attacks on Chinese-Linked Vessels
- Missile Attack on the Freda (March 2024)
- The Houthis targeted the crude oil tanker Freda, falsely labeling it as "British-owned." In reality, the ship was managed by a Chinese-linked company transporting Russian oil (Financial Times).
- Analysts attributed the mistake to the Houthis’ reliance on outdated maritime databases (The Washington Institute).
- General Avoidance of Chinese Ships After Initial Errors
- Early 2024 attacks on ships like Pumba and Pinocchio (mistakenly linked to the U.S./Israel) were later halted after the Houthis corrected ownership records (Lloyd’s List).
- Since mid-2024, Chinese-affiliated ships have faced fewer incidents, likely due to Iran’s diplomatic ties with China and the Houthis’ reluctance to provoke Beijing (South China Morning Post).
Why Were These Ships Targeted?
- The Houthis use flawed intelligence (e.g., old shipping registries) to identify targets, leading to errors (Crisis Group).
- Their targeting has evolved through phases:
- Israeli-linked ships (Nov 2023–Jan 2024)
- U.S./UK vessels (after Western airstrikes began)
- Ships with past Israeli port calls (from Feb 2024) (Reuters).
Conclusion
While the Houthis prioritize Israeli and Western-linked ships,
Japanese and Chinese vessels have been caught in crossfire due to misidentification. China-associated ships now experience fewer attacks, reflecting the group’s strategic avoidance of antagonizing Beijing.
Works Cited
- Al Jazeera. “Houthis Seize Israeli-Linked Ship in Red Sea.” 20 Nov. 2023.
- BBC News. “Japan Demands Release of Galaxy Leader Crew.” 5 Dec. 2023.
- Crisis Group. “Red Sea Crisis: Houthi Targeting and Missteps.” 12 Mar. 2024.
- Financial Times. “How the Houthis Mistakenly Attacked a Chinese-Linked Tanker.” 28 Mar. 2024.
- The Guardian. “Houthis Strike Japanese Ship in Red Sea.” 15 Dec. 2023.
- Lloyd’s List. “Houthi Targeting Errors and Shipping Risks.” 22 Feb. 2024.
- Maritime Executive. “AOM Sophie II Attack: What Went Wrong?” 18 Dec. 2023.
- Reuters. “Houthi Detainees: The Crew of the Galaxy Leader.” 10 Jan. 2024.
- South China Morning Post. “Why China’s Ships Avoid Houthi Attacks.” 5 May 2024.
- The Washington Institute. “Houthi Targeting Tactics in the Red Sea.” 9 Apr. 2024.