The December 31 counterattack by US naval helicopter gunships, which sank three Houthi attack boats, was a good start but did not solve the problem.
The US military's Central Command reported that, since November 19, the Houthis have attacked 23 ships.
The shipping giants that are pausing normal operations as a result of Houthi attacks may also be illustrating serious failing confidence in US pledges to protect freedom of navigation in the region.
China's war planners are also not likely impressed by US naval and air assets' interception of Houthi drones and missiles or even sinking a few Houthi vessels.
The US has not yet targeted Houthi missile- and drone-launching sites or other military positions, let alone even a training base inside Iran.
Chinese military expert Yun Hua commented on December 17 that "In way, the Houthis have done us, China, a big favor," for striking a blow against US "Hegemony" by helping China's long-range objective to reorient much of the world's trade from maritime passage to rapid and safe rail traffic across the Eurasian landmass.
The US would be wise, at the very least, to ramp up its anti-Houthi game plan in the Red Sea, in order not to tempt Xi into assuming that US passivity against the Houthis will be repeated in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
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