ABSTRACT
The rapid development of Sino-African linkages has been the source of much comment in recent times.1 While there are undoubted major benefits to Africa stemming from increased Chinese engagement, Beijing’s involvement with regimes widely deemed in the West as beyond the pale has garnered negative attention and has soured the overall efforts by an outgoing and increasingly confident China to sell itself as a responsible power.2 This chapter analyses the controversial relationship between Beijing and Sudan, and unpacks what effect Chinese interests have had upon the conflict in the Darfur region. In doing so, it will take as a given that numerous Western states and corporations pursue and nurture ties with equally unsavoury regimes across Africa and the world. It will also take as a given that much criticism of Chinese relations with Africa – including Sudan – stems from capitalist competition and concern that Beijing and its outward investment in places such as Africa threatens long-established Western business interests – explaining in part why issues such as ‘human rights’ have suddenly been resurrected as an ‘issue’ when discussing Sino-African ties.3 The chapter will demonstrate that Chinese policy towards Sudan over Darfur has changed and evolved and that Beijing has, within its operational constraints, sought to pressure Khartoum to engage with international society and move towards a resolution of the Darfur crisis. Many observers do not acknowledge this fact.
