Another dangerous step in Chinese-Sudan relations

October 21, 2008

     China says kidnappings won't affect Sudan policy

This article is simply another indication of how much China is willing to sacrifice for its strategic, geopolitical position in Darfur. This is a major concern of the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy. The Chinese government has proven through its actions in the volatile country that it is committed to work with any other government that will grant it access to resources and, as a result, capital. But not only that, now they take one step further. Following the kidnapping of nine Chinese oil workers on Saturday, October 18th, China is showing us that it is willing to sacrifice the well-being, even the lives of its citizens to maintain a relationship with the government of Sudan.

China finds itself in a traditionally realist position on the international stage. As an emerging figure in global economics, China knows that it must seek to maintain and improve upon its advantage relative to other countries, pandering to the zero-sum game theory of international politics. Sudan, with its wealth of resources in oil fields, gives China a tempting opportunity to improve its geopolitical power. If China holds a large reserve of oil, its people have access to energy to power their homes and their cars. But, in addition, this puts China in a higher position relative to those nations that are running out of resources to fuel their country, such as, most importantly, the U.S. China will hold onto this resource, regardless of the detriment to its people, as long as it can maintain that relative advantage to other countries.

The al-Bashir regime, on the other hand, stands to gain from this relationship as well. As many nations have divested from the North African state in favor of safer investments with countries that comply with reasonable human rights standards, al-Bashir's government finds itself lacking a substantial market for its oil. But if a major country with a great deal of capital to invest and an insatiable hunger for oil comes along, such a country may be able to brush aside accusations of al-Bashir's abusive, selfish government in exchange for an investment promising bountiful returns. The Khartoum government will of course welcome that investment, which gives them money to maintain their regime. Delving further, if such an investing country is willing to provide al-Bashir with weapons in exchange for the country's oil resources, the Sudanese leader can use those arms to hold a violent and unyielding grip on this country. Under these terms, how can we be sure that a rebel organization was responsible for kidnapping these workers? What would the JEM have to benefit from such a move? In a destabilized country with an all-powerful, unchecked, unpopular leader, why would rebels want to create a situation which demands centralized government action? The international community must recognize that the government of Sudan has perpetrated attacks against non-rebellion forces before, including a number of attacks by Janjaweed militia on AU peacekeepers this year. Only the government of a power-hungry leader could seek to create such a violently negative vicious cycle, perpetuated by the wishes of two selfish governments, at the expense of their helpless people. Such is the relationship of China and Sudan, and so it shall continue until a brave coalition of nations make a uniform, coordinated effort to stop it.