China weighs whether to send troops into Darfur

June 22, 2007|Alfred de Montesquiou, Associated Press

CAIRO -- China's special envoy on Darfur said yester day that his country will seriously consider whether to send troops on a peacekeeping mission in the war-torn Sudanese region and insisted Beijing is doing its best to help solve the conflict.

Liu Guijin lashed out at critics who accuse China of backing Sudan's government because of Chinese oil interests there.

Actress Mia Farrow and other activists have branded the 2008 Beijing Games the "Genocide Olympics," in efforts to force China into pressuring Sudan's leaders.

"To link the Chinese corporations' involvement in the oil sector with loss of life in Darfur is baseless," Liu said. "That link is really ridiculous. The Olympics are a nonpolitical event."

Because of its heavy investment, China is seen as a power broker in African countries like Sudan, which exports two-thirds of its oil output to China.

As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power, China has opposed strong measures against Sudan over the genocide in Darfur .

Liu defended Beijing's efforts to bring calm to Darfur.

"Even the United States has to admit that we've played a positive role," he said. "We've tried our best."

China has not received a formal request to send soldiers for the 19,000- troop peacekeeping mission, but is "open and sincere to making its contribution," Liu said.

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