Chinese vessels get waved through. The negotiations for Red Sea passage reflect broader commercial ties between Beijing and Tehran. China imports more crude oil than any other nation, and maintaining access to affordable shipping routes through the Red Sea is an economic imperative. The informal nature of the Houthi arrangements — no signed treaties, no public commitments — gives China diplomatic deniability while still reaping practical benefits. For the Houthis, granting passage to Chinese vessels serves multiple purposes.