China does not want to engage in governance and has a noninterference policy when it comes to the politics or internal affairs of countries it does business with in Africa. Or so we keep hearing. This noninterference is only partly true because as recently as the Libyan crisis, China did abstain from using its veto power on the no fly zone. This resulted in the passing of the resolution making China a participant, an “interferer”, of the domestic politics of Libya. “China’s abstention allowed for passage of the Resolution, which called for a no-fly zone and authorized UN member states “to take all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya, opening the door for the NATO campaign in support of the rebels to topple Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi.” A ship from China, An Yue Jiang, carrying weapons intended for Zimbabwe was stopped at South Africa’s Durban port in early 2008 and was never unloaded. China may keep pleading the fifth on noninterference but it’s very much involved in almost all conflict-ridden areas in Africa. “China provides weapons to other parts of Africa, often during times of conflict.” And “China’s principle of non-interference has been progressively contradicted through the thickening of its relations with Sudan since the early 1990s.”
Interviews were conducted with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, Mr. Mohamed Al Samani Al Wasila, 1st Secretary of Ghana Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Mr. Jude Osei, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Economic Affairs Officer for the Africa Section, Miss Aruna Bolaky, and Mr. Cheick Sidi Diarra, United Nations Special Adviser on Africa, High Representative for Least Developed, Landlocked and Small Island Developing States.
