Tuesday, February 26, 2008
US, Russia and UK were the biggest arms exporters to Sudan
Friday, 22 February 2008, BBC
China has defended its sale of weapons to Sudan, amid growing criticism of its alleged failure to help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
China's special envoy on Darfur told the BBC that Beijing accounted for just 8% of Sudan's total arms imports.
Liu Guijin said the US, Russia and UK were the biggest arms exporters to developing countries including Sudan.
About 200,000 have died in the five years of conflict between rebels, the army and pro-Khartoum militias.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC's China analyst Shirong Chen, Mr Liu said Chinese weapons were not fuelling the conflict.
"Sudan is the third largest conventional arms producer in Africa next only to South Africa and Egypt.
"And there are seven countries selling arms to Sudan. So even if China stopped its sale, it still won't solve the problem of arms in Sudan," he said.
Territorial integrity
Mr Liu, who is currently in the UK, is expected to travel to Sudan as part of an apparent diplomatic push to counter international criticism over Darfur.
He told the BBC that he would advise Sudan to co-operate on the deployment of a UN-African Union force.
Mr Liu said that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China had been asked to help find a long-term solution to the Darfur issue, but that it had done so with respect for Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. ¶ 4:06 PM
China has defended its sale of weapons to Sudan, amid growing criticism of its alleged failure to help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
China's special envoy on Darfur told the BBC that Beijing accounted for just 8% of Sudan's total arms imports.
Liu Guijin said the US, Russia and UK were the biggest arms exporters to developing countries including Sudan.
About 200,000 have died in the five years of conflict between rebels, the army and pro-Khartoum militias.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC's China analyst Shirong Chen, Mr Liu said Chinese weapons were not fuelling the conflict.
"Sudan is the third largest conventional arms producer in Africa next only to South Africa and Egypt.
"And there are seven countries selling arms to Sudan. So even if China stopped its sale, it still won't solve the problem of arms in Sudan," he said.
Territorial integrity
Mr Liu, who is currently in the UK, is expected to travel to Sudan as part of an apparent diplomatic push to counter international criticism over Darfur.
He told the BBC that he would advise Sudan to co-operate on the deployment of a UN-African Union force.
Mr Liu said that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China had been asked to help find a long-term solution to the Darfur issue, but that it had done so with respect for Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. ¶ 4:06 PM
