China on Yemen blast and US warships in Taiwan Strait

China on Thursday condemned a blast in Yemen that killed at least 25 people a day earlier amid a reshuffle of the Middle East nation's cabinet.

Speaking in Beijing on Thursday, Wang Wenbin, who is a spokesperson of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that China "always opposes and condemns attacks targeting civilians and civil facilities."

He urged officials in Yemen to speed up the political settlement process and restore national peace, stability and normal order as soon as possible.

At least 110 other people were also wounded in the blast in the southern city of Aden which happened after a plane carrying Yemen's newly formed cabinet landed at an airport.

No one on the government plane was hurt.

Yemen's internationally recognised government said Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired four ballistic missiles at the airport.

Rebel officials did not answer phone calls from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Wang also criticised the US for staging a show of force after two American destroyers crossed the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, which Wang said "provoked disturbances" in the Taiwan Strait and sent wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" forces.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur sailed through the Taiwan Strait this morning in what the US Navy said was a routine transit in accordance with international law.

(Image Credit: AP)