The Darfur conflict and China

I. Introduction
a. Darfur crisis has attracted attention of international community as the Sudanese government has supported Arab militia that has unleashed a reign of terror on innocent African tribes of south Sudan.
b. Economic factors are mainly responsible for emergence of this crisis.
c. China has played its role in this region due to its dependence on oil imports, which are necessary to maintain its economic growth.

II. Body
a. The major developed countries such as the US and Great Britain have considered Darfur problem as humanitarian crisis. These countries have imposed sanctions on Sudan for fuelling war in this troubled region.
b. China, which has invested heavily in Sudanese oil fields, has exhibited independent attitude towards Darfur. This is because China expects to obtain continuous supply of oil from this African region.
c. China has directly and indirectly opposed UN sanctions by challenging UNSC resolutions concerning Sudan and by supplying arms to Sudan government-sponsored militia. Such Chinese strategy can inspire western nations to react in similar manner.
d. China needs to understand suffering of people, the members of African tribes who are harassed by Arab militia.

III Conclusion
a. International community has criticized the role of China in Sudan as China has continued to give liberal aid to Sudan central government.
b. China has significant stakes in Sudan, in the form of investment in oil fields in the region. China needs huge quantity of oil to maintain its growth rate.
c. China needs to review its attitude towards Sudan.

The Darfur conflict and China
The Darfur conflict has reached complex proportions with the role of China, which has exhibited opportunistic tendencies in its political moves determined by its economic ambitions in the region. China has, deliberately or not deliberately, followed the footsteps of the US and other developed countries that exhibit intention to exploit underdeveloped regions to enhance their revenues from such operations.

Sudan, the region comprising people belonging to different races and speaking various languages, is involved in bitter power struggle between government sponsored Arab militia and African tribes. The conflict, resulting in killings of millions of people from 1970s, has attracted little media attention in the United States, as the media in this country has highlighted the life of celebrities instead of attempting to understand the basis of genocide in the African region. The UN and other international organizations have exhibited superficial understanding of this problem, by calling for peace. The crux of the problem is the conflict for oil, a major exportable resource that is available in Sudan. North and South Sudan fight for the control of this precious resource. This is because traditionally Sudan does not boast of any exportable resources and oil is the only resource, which can fetch handsome profit to the government.  (Morse 2005)

It is stated that the crisis is  an explosion of structural violence rooted in constant struggles for control of national wealth and power between Sudans central government and its peripherals. (Quach 2004, p. 2) The statement can imply that  central government of Sudan has entered into strategic alliances with forces, local, national, and international, which can ensure central governments ability to control national resources. To achieve this goal, the central government can take any action. This political situation is exploited by China, an emerging world power, which needs control of oil, an important resource, necessary to achieve greater industrial progress.

Generally, one can accept that economic causes are responsible for the emergence of war between Arab militia and African farmers in the region. In the year 2001, the country registered GDP of 13.5 billion, which was a fraction of US GDP. This shows that Sudan is one of the most underdeveloped countries of the world, even though it is one of the largest economies of Africa.

 Till recently, farmers produced crops with the assistance of primitive tools. Majority of population lacks skill and resources necessary to enhance their economic power. Due to lack of enhanced agricultural production, the country depends heavily on its oil output, even though it cannot solve its severe economic problems, particularly in the countryside. (Jie 2004) This has given an opportunity to local and international groups interested in improving their prospects in the country. Consequently, China, hungry for international power and recognition, has encouraged Sudanese government by providing them resources in the name of humanitarian aid. No mechanism is in place to see that humanitarian aid reaches the target group.

Evidences are available to suggest that the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation has its holdings in the oil fields of Southern Sudan. China has invested heavily to develop oil fields and exploit this scarce resource. Chinese soldiers are seen defending such regions that involve precious Chinese economic interest. (Masud 2004)  It is also suggested that the countries such as the US and Britain can enter this region in order to compete with China. This is because as early 1996, the US had given funds to various African countries to destroy Sudanese regime so that it can gain control of oil resources of the region. In this respect China needs to monitor movement of western advanced economies, which are also known for their appetite for oil.

 Natural calamities such as drought and famine are other problems affecting the people of Southern Sudan. This region possesses considerable oil resources. Despite this, the people complain that their villages are not developed. Consequently, they decided to continue their struggle against the government, despite attempts by the UN to compel parties to dispute to sign a peace agreement. This shows that solution to Darfur crisis is not visible in the short term.

Oil was discovered in the region in the year 1978. (Morse 2005)   After this discovery, major countries of the world, including the US, Britain, and China have participated in the race to control these resources. The western countries control huge oil resources and there is demand for more alternative sources of this energy. This is due to an increase in demand for oil, particularly from growth-oriented countries such as China and India. In China, for example, oil demand increased by 33 percent in the year 2005. (Morse 2005)   It is suggested that India and China will need more than 11 million barrels a day by the end of 2010.

Prior to 1993, China was the largest oil exporter from Asia. In the post-1993 period, China has introduced notable changes to its economy, which is growing at the rate of 9 percent per year. To maintain this stupendous growth rate, the country will need enormous supply of oil. At present, China is the second largest consumer of oil in the world. When Chinese industries switch from coal to oil, it will enhance demand for oil in this country. Nearly 50 percent of Chinas oil supply is from the Middle East. China is reluctant to depend on a particular region to satisfy its desire to obtain oil. The country is searching for an alternative region.

China finds that Africa can emerge as future bet. Consequently, China has initiated a policy to strengthen its ties with African countries. It finds, mainly due to political crisis, an opportunity to obtain oil in Sudan and other countries of Africa. Sudan is a major African country having close trade relationship with China.

Nearly 60 percent of Sudan oil produce is exported to China. Compared to this success in Sudan, the Chinese policy has failed in Angola and Nigeria. In these countries China followed the strategy of developing oil fields in the pretext of giving loans for building roads, railways, and bridges.

Chinese companies have already invested heavily in this region, through investment in infrastructure, kickbacks, and installments. Chinese greed for oil is likely to result in similar investment projects by Indian oil firms. The Asian countries have participated in the race to acquire this precious resource. One needs to analyze Chinese political statements, with reference to Darfur, in the background of its economic stakes in the region

Wide gap prevails between western and Chinese attitudes toward Darfur crisis. The West considers the African problem as a humanitarian crisis and has imposed sanctions on this African zone. China, on the other hand, accepts that this is a humanitarian crisis, while at the same time refusing to impose sanctions. Consequently, China defends its position by claiming that war in the region emerged due to lack of economic development. Consequently, China has invested heavily in oil exploration, irrigation, healthcare, and education. Nevertheless, the major part of Chinese investment is seen in oil-related projects.

China believes in establishing long term relationship with the African leaders and assisting them in enhancing their economic and political might. This policy can boomerang as the western leaders can claim that China has slowed down the peace process, as it has invested heavily in this region. Chinese leaders do not accept the argument that they possess imperialist designs in Africa. (Qian and Wu 2007)
The West and China do not agree with each other concerning the solution to humanitarian crisis in Africa. Indirectly, China has encouraged militant groups in Darfur and thereby worsened political situations in this region. In the name of non-interference policy, China has attempted to defend its close economic ties with Sudan central government.

The UN has imposed arms embargo on Sudan. China seems to take an independent stand even though it claims to respect UN decision concerning Sudan. Evidences are available to suggest that the Sudan government uses Chinese army lorries, which were exported to the region in the year 2005. The rebel groups use Chinese army lorries captured from the military.

The Chinese governments should note that its arms can fall into the hands of terrorists who can contribute to genocide in the region. The Sudan military and the rebel groups use Chinese-made equipments such as guns, lorries, anti aircraft guns, and Chinese Fantan jets. The Chinese government claims that Fantan jets were delivered before 2003 when there was no UN sanction on export of arms to Sudan. At the same time, media has reported that Chinese have sent personnel to give training to fighter pilots. (Anderson 2008)  This shows that even after imposition of the UN sanction, Chinese government continues to support genocide in Sudan. This is because central government and its militia use Chinese-made jets in order to kill people who lack weapons to defend their villages. Consequently, Sudan government has continued to indulge in massacre of people who are considered as racially inferior. Chinese government has refused to accept this allegation, but one cannot accept such assertions. China seems to establish strong ties with Sudanese government to pursue its selfish economic and political ambitions in the region.

China has used the strategy that was used by western imperialist powers such as the US and Britain in early 20th century. To exploit oil resources, these countries had in the past given liberal aid to countries that indulged in violence. The Middle East, today, faces the problem of Islamic terrorism. (An-Naim 2004)  Similarly, today Africa has become the center of turmoil due to the arms that were supplied by developed countries of the world.

China aims to join other countries that exploited resources available in Asia and Africa, the underdeveloped regions of the world. Consequently, humanitarian values have taken backseat as Chinese government has continued to maintain its normal ties with the parties that indulge in mass massacre in this African region. The developed countries and emerging powers such as China need to accept their responsibility in this major crisis.
  
The western nations are not interested in continuing with their ties with Sudanese leaders who do not seem to show remorse for killing of large numbers of innocent civilians. The international community has pressured China to respond to its call to sever its ties with Sudan.

Broadly speaking, China has accepted the UN position with reference to the Darfur crisis, but China believes that the UNSC needs to show patience before implementing any radical action against Sudan. China has used its power in the UNSC to block resolutions that suggest measures such as use of international force so as to suppress Sudanese authorities.

The Chinese opinion is that the UN needs to take note of the views of the Sudanese government. It is argued that the UN needs to send its peacekeeping force and introduce institutional change only after taking consent of Sudanese government. China has used its authority with a view to postpone crucial political decisions at the UN level. This has prevented the UN from introducing a united action.

The foreign policy of China is designed in such a way as to accommodate its strategy to achieve high growth rate so that the country can compete with other major economies of the world. China follows non interference foreign policy. Critics suggest that China cannot adhere to this policy in the long term. This is because it has invested huge capital in Africa. (Hanson 2008) The capital employed in Africa need to yield profit for China to survive in the present world of globalization. Scholars have criticized Chinas attitude towards human rights violation in Sudan.

Despite atrocities committed by the Sudanese central government, China has continued to invest heavily in the region, in the pretext of developing it. Such investments have allowed China to influence Sudanese leaders and their decisions, as most of them are determined by Chinese views. Chinese National Petroleum Company has entered into bilateral agreement with the Sudan government to develop an offshore oil block. China has decided to write off 80 million Sudanese debt.

The humanitarian aid is not sufficient to replace human and material loss suffered by innocent civilians. Nearly 70 percent oil profits are redeployed by the Sudanese central government to purchase arms. (Harris 2008) In this way, China is able to obtain return from its investment in oil fields of Sudan. China supplies large quantities of weapons to Sudan, which is not able to save its oil revenues. The Asian country has assured its cooperation with Sudan in the future. The policies of China are not beneficial to Sudan and international community.

China, unlike other major world powers, has opposed the UN sanction on Darfur, by supplying arms and weapons and by maintaining its trade relationship with this region ruled by dictators. With a view to obtain continuous supply of large amount of oil, China has invested heavily in Sudanese oil fields. Such investments are necessary if China wants to maintain its economic growth. Economic factors have resulted in political decisions that have affected ability of international community to establish peace in this region of Africa. China needs to review its policy sooner or later so as to avoid negative reactions by western countries as they can also pursue similar policies in Sudan and other African nations.

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