Originally published on the CGS blog on May 8, 2007.
Amnesty International released a report today accusing China and Russia of supplying arms to Sudan. An arms embargo has prevented arms deals in Sudan due to a March 2005 U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an arms embargo with all parties involed in the Darfur conflict . The report details the presence of Chinese and Russian planes and helicopters in Sudan, which the government of Sudan has then used to fly arms into Darfur. Both China and Russia have denied any breach of the U.N. arms embargo.
Some Darfur activists are increasingly calling for activism to focus on China’s role in funding Sudan’s ability to carry out mass atrocities in Darfur. There is no doubt that China benefits from its oil interests in Sudan, or that China and Russia have a huge role to play in pressuring the government of Sudan into action on Darfur. Both countries need to step up and use their leverage to play a more positive and coercive role with the government of Sudan on Darfur. I wonder, though: how constructive is it to shame China and Russia into action? How should the U.S. and the rest of the international community get China and Russia on board in the Security Council to actively help stop the atrocities in Darfur?
Thoughts?
