"US-China Back-Channel Talks Fail to Secure Cooperation on Red Sea Shipping Security"

The US failed to persuade China to pressure Iran to stop Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping during two days of talks in Bangkok, with no sign of China using its economic influence on Iran to address the threat to global supply chains. Efforts to prod Beijing to influence North Korea and ease tensions with South Korea have also hit a wall, while discussions on the Burma conflict showed more promise. The meeting highlighted China's reluctance to support US initiatives in international crises, despite progress in other areas such as counternarcotics cooperation and military contacts.