China doing enough efforts to end Darfur crisis – official
June 5, 2008 (BEIJING) – China said today that it was making quiet enough efforts to help for a peaceful settlement of Darfur crisis.
“China’s efforts on Darfur are no worse than and no less than any other country in the world,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Thursday.
Qin further said China had always advanced to solve the Darfur issue through dialogue and consultation on the basis of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan.
Two senior U.S. officials Thomas Christensen and James Swan, deputy assistant secretaries of state for East Asia and Africa, respectively, praised China for increasing pressure on Sudan to change its behavior in Darfur but said Beijing can do much more to stop Khartoum from harming civilians in the Sudanese region.
They were speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa on Wednesday.
China is considered as close ally to Khartoum. Beijing had been blamed for preventing the UN Sceurity Council from taking concrete measures against Khartoum. It is also accused of providing weapons to the Sudanese army. China has important oil investment in Sudan.
The Chinese official also underlined the participation of his country in Darfur peacekeeping force. He said that Beijing pledged to send a 315 strong unit mainly consisted of military engineers.
“So far, the first team of 143 engineers has already been dispatched to Darfur and is undertaking its jobs. The rest will depart as soon as the United Nations sends relevant equipment there,” Qin said.
He said the top priority at present was to promote the resolution of the Darfur issue via the three-party mechanism of the Sudanese government, African Union and the United Nations, and the double-track strategy of peacekeeping actions and the political process moving forward together in balance.
The officials told the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa that the U.S. is asking Beijing to stop Chinese companies’ “substantial arms trade” with Sudan because the weapons are likely being used by the government in Darfur.
UN experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the conflict and puts the death toll at 10,000.
(ST)