Document - Sudan: Empty Promises on Darfur: China factsheet

Empty Promises on Darfur

China Factsheet

China enjoys close economic and military ties with Sudan. In 2007, China’s intervention was instrumental in securing Sudan’s consent to the deployment of a combined United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force, UNAMID.

In 2007, China provided US$1.8 million to UNAMID’s predecessor, the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS), and about US$11 million in humanitarian assistance to Darfur.¹

When the UNAMID peacekeeping force took over from AMIS on 1 January 2008, China had 17 troops, 74 police officers and 11 military observers deployed in Darfur.

China’s contributions to peacekeeping operations have seen a considerable increase over the past years, making it the thirteenth largest contributor of uniformed personnel over the last five years.

Yet, in the words of Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, “China, like the other permanent Council members, has a status that would bring greater authority to the blue helmets if it expanded its contribution”. ² Guéhenno further expressed his hopes of seeing one day a Chinese infantry battalion and air transport units.

PLEDGES BY CHINA

In May 2007, China is reported to have pledged to provide UNAMID with an engineering company of 315 troops.³

CURRENT STATUS

The first batch of Chinese peacekeepers to Darfur arrived in November 2007.⁴

It appears that by July 2008, China had deployed the full complement of 315 engineering troops that it had pledged to UNAMID.⁵

It is reported that Guéhenno travelled to Beijing in November 2007 with the aim of encouraging China to make further contributions to UNAMID and other United Nations peacekeeping missions.⁶

China has however not made any further offers of military equipment or funding to UNAMID.⁷

RECOMMENDATIONS

• China has the capacity to play a larger role in supporting UNAMID, and should increase its contribution to the peacekeeping force by deploying more force enablers such as medical, engineering or other needed support troops.

• China should pledge and provide infantry battalions as well as air transport units within its capacity.

• China should pledge and provide funding and ground transport and air equipment, including helicopters to UNAMID.

• China should use its influence within the UN Security Council and the international community and encourage other countries to provide UNAMID with all necessary air and ground transport equipment, as well as other essential human, material and financial resources.