Damietta Port Attack: Why China Fears a New Threat to the Belt and Road

Chinese research centers, in their analyses of the Middle East, specifically after the attack on the Egyptian port of Damietta on July 29, 2026, and the fire that broke out on two ships (a floating regasification facility and a gas tanker) in the port of Damietta, caused by an unknown drone, and the targeting of two ships, one of which was a regasification vessel (containing parts belonging to an American company) by a drone, focus on de-escalation and protecting international trade routes and energy security, while China puts forward a number of conspiracy theories and hypotheses concerning groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, in attacking the port, and pointing to the possibility of the involvement of non-state actors or groups like the Muslim Brotherhood to create internal security disruption in coordination with the Israeli Mossad, which supports them in reaching power in Egypt, or China directing accusations to the Israeli side of trying to drag Egypt into a battle with Iran in an attempt to push the Egyptian army and the Egyptian military establishment to be drawn into regional conflicts in favor of hostile powers. …

Source