China acts on Darfur after Olympics threat

China acts on Darfur after Olympics threat
Posted by Alrabae Adam Ezaldeen Supervisor of foreign Affairs of SLM/A
Jane Macartney in Beijing
May 11, 2007

CHINA responded today to increasing international criticism of its close friendship with Sudan, appointing a special representative for African affairs whose first task will be to focus on the Darfur crisis.
It is the second time in a week that China has taken action in Sudan that marks a shift from Beijing’s policy of not interfering in the affairs of another nation.
Chinese leaders have been stung by criticism that Beijing’s failure to do more could jeopardise its prestige during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Liu Guijin, an Africa veteran and former ambassador to Zimbabwe and South Africa, has been appointed as special representative.
A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said: “Since the situation in Darfur has drawn significant international attention, (his) work will focus on the Darfur issue.”
The appointment comes a day after 108 members of the US House of Representatives wrote to Hu Jintao, the Chinese President, urging Beijing do more on Darfur or face a public relations disaster during the Olympics. The letter said: “It would be a disaster for China if the Games were to be marred by protests from concerned individuals and groups, who will undoubtedly link your Government to the continued atrocities in Darfur, if there is no significant improvement in the conditions.” It added that unless China acted, “history will judge your Government as having bank-rolled a genocide”. Earlier this week China agreed to send nearly 300 military engineers with a UN peacekeeping force to Sudan.