https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-11/ships-advertise-chinese-links-to-avoid-houthi-attack-in-red-sea?embedded-checkout=true

At least five vessels transiting the Red Sea are using their signals to say they have links to China — the latest unusual measure taken to try and avoid attack by Houthi militants in the Red Sea.

Each of the ships is signaling “all Chinese crew” or something similar in a field that would normally contain its destination. Two are currently in the Red Sea, while two more have navigated the risky waterway and are now sailing to Asia. A fifth appears to be heading toward the Gulf of Aden.