China is evacuating its citizens from Yemen and suspending anti-piracy patrols in the area amid the growing violence in the Middle Eastern country.
Three Chinese navy ships were diverted to the port of Aden to rescue about 500 Chinese nationals caught in the conflict.
China has in the meantime repeated a call for a political resolution to the crisis.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China is following closely the current situation in Yemen.
Hua said China hopes relevant parties can resolve the Yemen crisis through political means as soon as possible.
”We want to once again to call on the various sections in Yemen to effectively implement relevant U.N. resolutions, and proposals by the Gulf Cooperation Council, and restore stability and normal and legal order in Yemen,”said Hua.
Meanwhile China’s ambassador to Yemen Tian Qi says airstrikes have killed many civilians, prompting the Chinese government to begin the evacuation of its citizens from the country.
”The Saudi-led airstrikes since March 26th have caused a large number of civilian causalities,” said Mr Qi.
He added that to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, the Chinese government has decided to evacuate its citizens from Yemen.
Naval vessels have been sent to complete the withdrawal.
This shows the Chinese government’s concern for the security of its people as a matter of foreign policy.
Yemeni fighters loyal to the Saudi-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi clashed with Iranian-allied Houthi fighters on Sunday in Aden, the absent leader’s last major foothold in the country.
Hadi loyalists in the southern port city reported a gunbattle in the central Crater district in which three people were killed.
The Health Ministry, said Saudi-led air strikes had killed 35 people and wounded 88 overnight. The figures could not be independently confirmed.
The Houthi fighters, representing a Shi’ite minority that makes up around a third of Yemen’s population, emerged as the most powerful force in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country last year when they captured the capital Sanaa.
