China Votes for Instability

With their decision to effectively block a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Sudan's expulsion of relief agencies, the Chinese are playing a dangerous game and essentially voting to destabilize Sudan. The Chinese insisted on including language in the draft resolution that would have condemned the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for President Bashir- a position the U.S., UK and France would obviously not support. So what will China have to show for this approach to diplomacy? First, it makes it far more attractive for the United States and others to go around the United Nations in exploring the imposition of a no-fly zone or some other form of humanitarian intervention to help save the more than million lives at risk. Second, since relief agencies were not only working in Darfur to save lives but elsewhere across Sudan to help support the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, China is making it more likely that the historic peace accord falls apart. Given China's economic interests, one would think that it would support efforts to achieve greater stability in Sudan- even if that means letting go of their favorite son, President Bashir. Even China wants to accelerate the potential disintegration of Sudan, there is probably no better way to do it than blocking reasonable multilateral measures- such as condemning the government's efforts to cut off aid to more than a million desperate people.

• International Criminal Court
• Omar al-Bashir
• Sudan and South Sudan