Saudi Crown Prince MBS and China’s Xi Jinping Face Off Over Alleged Houthi Missile Supplies
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly confronted Chinese President Xi Jinping over allegations that Chinese supply chains are providing advanced missile components to Yemen’s Houthi movement, which has threatened Saudi Arabia.
According to the account, MBS expressed frustration over Riyadh’s economic partnership with Beijing, arguing that Chinese-linked supply networks should not contribute to weapons capabilities threatening Saudi territory.
Xi reportedly pushed back, arguing that China’s global trade networks are decentralized and that Beijing should not automatically be held responsible for the activities of regional actors using commercially available components.
MBS allegedly warned that continued flows of military-related hardware to the Houthis could jeopardize China’s access to Saudi energy markets and strategic investment projects.
Xi, in turn, reportedly emphasized China’s central role in global manufacturing and trade, suggesting that severing economic ties would carry significant consequences for both countries.