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Latest update: 25/03/2011
- China - Libya - United Nations - Zimbabwe
China hardens stance against Libyan air strikes
The Chinese government is stepping up its demands that the Western coalition halt air strikes on Libya. Beijing called for an immediate ceasefire on Thursday and warned an even larger humanitarian crisis is in the making.
By Eric Olander (text)
The Chinese government stepped up its criticism on Thursday of US and European air strikes on Libya. "We believe that the objective of enforcing the UN Security Council resolution is to protect humanitarian (objectives) and not to create an even bigger humanitarian disaster," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.
Jiang's comments are just the latest in a series of critical signals to come from Beijing over how the coalition is implementing United Nations resolution 1973, which authorised the creation of a no-fly zone over Libya and the bombing of ground targets.
China abstained from the vote, and Beijing has been very clear in its position that the coalition air attacks risk killing civilians and should be halted immediately.
Chinese trade with Libya
Libya, like other countries in Africa, is an increasingly important Chinese trading partner. Prior to the current unrest, there were an estimated 35,000 Chinese expatriates in the country who largely worked on multi-billion-dollar construction projects.
These infrastructure deals point to increasingly close Sino-Libyan cooperation, with Chinese investment in the country totalling an estimated US$10 billion and bilateral trade last year nearing US$7 billion.
For some perspective on Chinese policy in Libya, France24.com sat down with China-Africa relations scholar Deborah Brautigam of the American University in Washington, D.C. Professor Brautigam is the author of "The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa" and blogs on the issue at "China in Africa: The Real Story".
What was behind China's decision to support economic sanctions against Libya and not block the passage of United Nations resolution 1973 authorising military force against the Libyan government?
Well, the way I saw it was there was a domestic concern amongst the Chinese leadership. They were looking at companies that are doing [a] huge number of construction projects across Libya. Those Chinese companies were being attacked and the Chinese were having to send in ships and send in planes to evacuate people. So I think if the people in China had seen their government appearing to [ignore the attacks] on Chinese companies, [it would be seen] as the Chinese government not protecting the Chinese people.
Where is the balance of interests for the Chinese in Libya between their economic investments and their political objectives internationally?
I think it's a combination of interests, but what is always foremost in Chinese concerns with the Security Council is they do not want to set a precedent to have the Security Council be turned against China when they're dealing with their internal disputes, as in Xinjiang, Tibet or Taiwan. They don't want to set a precedent for Security Council action against them.
So that's always a delicate dance. Now the commercial interests are there as well ... . For example, in Sudan there's been much more of an attempt by the Chinese political machine and diplomats at the UN to water down sanctions that would hurt Chinese economic interests.
In Libya it's a somewhat different situation. They don't have oil interests that are very large. They don't have a lot of oil installations. They're doing exploration, but there isn't much that they control there.
Most of the Chinese business activity in Libya has been in construction. I was looking back on some of the statistics on this, and in 2008 they signed US$10 billion in construction contracts. So this is a lot of business, but it's not something that they need to protect through trying to hold off on sanctions.
Does China see its interests more aligned with African and Arab states than it does with the West or the UN?
That's an interesting question. The Chinese are always looking to taking the pulse of African states and Middle Eastern states, and if the Arab League had not come out in support of this no-fly zone or in support of sanctions I don't think the Chinese would have joined in, not nearly as easily as they did.
So the Arab League was in support and the Chinese went along. Unfortunately, African governments and the African Union have not been forceful on the Zimbabwe issue or the Sudan Darfur issue, so the Chinese have been taking their cues from that as well. So they see there are a whole lot of countries in Africa, 53 countries, who have votes at the United Nations, any one of them could flip over and recognise Taiwan.
There's a lot of concern in keeping those diplomatic relations happy, but for the Chinese, of course, the United States and Europe are really important stakeholders in the global political economy. And they care about we think, but they also care a lot more than we do about what these other countries think.
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Comments (20)
They are lying
Liars! China dont care about civilians. They faciliated the Tamil genocide in Sri-Lanka by supplying the Sri-Lankan governement with the weapons it needed to shell bomb thoasands of civilians belonging to the Tamil minority group. The real reasons China oppose intervention to protect Libyan citizens is because they themselves have a shocking human rights record and wouldnt want to set a precedent wherby the international community actually intervenes to stop injustices commited by other countries
china
Russia,India,China,latin america ,and whichever non white country wants to join up to form they own military ,naval.and air and strategic alliances ,to combat the dominance of the white countries .
bomb china next
there needs to be a change of government in china to let all have democracy not dictatorship
Whet the heck???
Life is more valuable then interests. This lady is nut'so Peace is in everyones best interest. Why do we value pieces of paper more then human life. It is of a sad nurturer-ed mind that concludes possessions above the life that creates them.
Western Ghosts
You ghosts just want to suck the blood from Africa,once they can not satisfy your need,then you wave your stick toward them.Now western countries are protecting their companies' profit,not their people's welfare.Think about it.You started the war not only because of the oil,but also the increase of China's influence in Africa. You poor ghosts go back to watch your own human rights situation,then you will know you are doing far worse than the countries you are fighting.Please listen to your own people's heart,not from the companies!!!
No fly zone on libya
i think the implication of no fly zone was some how exaggerated during implementation. no fly zone was not meant to destroy the infrastructure and killing civilians in the name of protecting them.
However the west and nato have done this mess and will not surrender in their action. that is why China who wants to portray its self as the best worlds superpower can not be involved. The reality is that was not the resolution passed.
Gaddafi Pays Off People
How much did Gaddafi pay for China to support him?
let them be!!!
Everyone has to decided for themselves.so there's no need to embarrasse nations like china and russia.All should be hoping for is peace not war....
kaddafi and westhern presidents
http://ants-and-grasshoppers.blogspot.com/2011/03/photos-gaddafi-world-l...
China
Let China starts repecting human rights and then starts talking about srious issues.
China
They had their chance at the UN and chose to abstain from the vote on UN Res 1973. SO STFU China.
China's comments and objections.
This article should not have even been printed, after all China's own grip on it's population by their restrictions on matters such as freedom of speech amd political preference are a demonstration of their own intolerance. What right does such a nation have to make critisism and comment when they don't practice what they preach for their own nation. I am not impressed by China's pointifications about human rights. We should not give them any credance whatsoever. You watch and see when this is over just how fast the Chinese will suddenly want to become friends with the new Libya in an effort to increase their trade holdings and oil. Just like they are in many other parts of Africa.
china that country that really cares
Cares that is as long as their interest and greed are not endangered.China, gee, they say they dont interfer in other countries internal affairs, of couse not, they have way too much to gain by keeping quiet whilst the despots of the world get rich via Chinese "loans"the killing in Durfur, Zim, Burma, Nth Koreo, man the Chinese always say they have a culture that is 5000 years old, Hmmmm a culture protects ALL the people, not just the crooks in charge. U watch, watch what they do when Gadiffi is gone, you just watch them slip, and slide and suck upto the new government of Libya, watch them as they ply their dirty sly cheating ways. They bhave destroyed the local encominies of Africa( sorry english is not my language..i think i have spelling errors, but at least i am honest, no Chinese Goverment people is honest
Going to have to agree with China
What the heck are we doing? How long will it be before the UN send it's forces in to bomb the US. If they can attack Lybia they can attack the US.
We are not the world police or the world protector. We don't have enough money to pay our bills now. We need to get every single military person out of the middle east, and concentrate on protecting our own borders.
Chinese and the Russians are
Chinese and the Russians are the most dishonest nations on the face of earth.
The Chinese better shut up...
This is the wish of the WORLD not just your narrow minded interests.
Keep quiet !
China action
Where were these Chines when Gaddaffi was killing Libyans in the last 4 weeks??
These air strickes are requested by the people of Libya.
They have saved lots of civilians in Bangazi
Why the chines do not ask Gaddafi to cease fire ?? it is not like he will listen to them any way.
Abdullah
China? Humanitarian concerns?
Funny, when the Lybian governament was slaughtering its own people, China was silent......
China Blew Its Chance
They and Russia had a chance to block this, and both decided not to vote.
China, you blew it. Are you terrified that foreign powers will intervene when you have your revolution?
china !!???
China....still need to eat it's bag of rice...till they can say something.
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