Amb. Rice: US has no evidence China sold weapons to Gadhafi’s forces [The Hill]

So it seems the ‘China broke UN embargo to sell arms to Gaddafi (Independent UK) report’ is a bit of a smoke screen, based on this statement – “Rice said she sees “no pattern of Chinese violations” of arms sales measures”

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Amb. Rice: US has no evidence China sold weapons to Gadhafi’s forces
by John Bennett
Source – The Hill, published September 12, 2011

The U.S. has yet to uncover any evidence showing China sold arms to embattled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi or his loyalist forces, a senior Obama administration official said Monday.

When pressed by administration officials, Chinese leaders confirmed talks did occur, Susan Rice, Washington’s ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters.

But the Chinese remain insistent that no weapons or funds changed hands, Rice said during a breakfast meeting sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Chinese Model, Foreign aid, Influence, International Relations, Libya, military, Politics, Public Diplomacy, Strategy, U.S.

Libya: Litmus Test in China’s Foreign Policy Shift [Alarabiya]

Litmus test indeed; this article is a month old but useful to juxtapose against what’s transpiring today. A failed Libyan state is not a scenario in the interest of China as it is one of China’s major sources of oil (150,000 barrels a day last year, a tenth of Libyan crude exports). It will be interesting to see how Beijing plays around with its non-interventionist soft power principles in foreign affairs to keep this resource and deployment stream alive and kicking. 

In more recent news – ‘China on Tuesday urged Libya to protect its investments and said their oil trade benefited both countries, after a Libyan rebel warned that Chinese oil companies could lose out after the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi’ (Reuters, August 23, 2011). Certainly, the matter is compounded by ‘partnering rogue state’ reports such as when ‘China broke UN embargo to sell arms to Gaddafi‘.

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Libya: Litmus Test in China’s Foreign Policy Shift
By TERESITA CRUZ-DEL ROSARIO AND WANG RUNFEI PHILLIE
Source – Alabrabiya, published July 26, 2011

The Libyan case does provide Beijing a momentum to review its foreign policy.

On Mar 17th, Beijing made the unusual decision not to utilize its veto power to let the military strikes move forward. This authorized the establishment of a “no fly zone” over Libya and the use of “all necessary measures” to prevent civilians from being attacked by forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi at the United Nations Security Council vote on resolution 1973. Unusual because this marks the first time that China chose not to block Security Council-backed military measures against another government for human rights or humanitarian causes.

Quickly, Chinese newspapers responded critically to what it considered as western military intervention. The People’s Daily and the China Daily, for example, both launched op-eds stating that the intervention further worsened the “humanitarian crisis” in Libya. Yang Jiechi, China’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said China is “deeply concerned” about civilian casualties and called for an immediate ceasefire in Libya on Mar 24th.

Filed under: Africa, Beijing Consensus, Chinese Model, Domestic Growth, Environment, Foreign aid, Influence, International Relations, Jasmine Revolution, Libya, Media, military, Politics, Public Diplomacy, Resources, Soft Power, Strategy, Trade

China broke UN embargo to sell arms to Gaddafi [Independent]

The title sounds absolute enough, but there seems little by way of actual evidence in this report to suggest so. Huge distortion between the true event and media representation – ‘State-controlled Chinese companies apparently sought to sell arms…according to official documents found in a bin in Tripoli… It was unclear whether these weapons had been paid for or delivered.’ 

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China broke UN embargo to sell arms to Gaddafi
By Portia Walker in Tripoli
Source – Independent, published Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Rebel fighters with arms concealed by regime loyalists in a Tripoli furniture factory. Photo – Independent

State-controlled Chinese companies apparently sought to sell arms to the Gaddafi regime for use against the rebel army despite a UN embargo against such sales, according to official documents found in a bin in Tripoli.

The documents, uncovered by a Canadian reporter, show that members of the former Libyan government visited Beijing in July, when the war against the rebels and Nato was in full swing, and met representatives from arms companies in a bid to buy weapons from the Eastern superpower.

An invoice recovered from Libyan government files revealed lists of $200m (£124m) worth of military equipment, including pistols, weapons and rocket launchers. It was unclear whether these weapons had been paid for or delivered.

Filed under: Africa, Beijing Consensus, Chinese Model, Foreign aid, Independent UK, Influence, International Relations, Jasmine Revolution, Libya, Media, military, Politics, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities

Chinese Warship On Libya Coast [Youtube]

4,000 tonne Chinese frigate off the Libyan coast amidst China’s condemnation of Libya air strikes. This is the first time a Chinese warship has ever sailed in the Mediterranean sea. This time it’s for humanitarian reasons – to evacuate its people, but the side effect of a display of military power overseas can not be missed; especially in a region where it is quickly making friends to secure commercial and resource interests.

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Charm Offensive, Chinese Model, Chinese overseas, CNN, Economics, Influence, International Relations, Jasmine Revolution, Libya, Mapping Feelings, Overseas Chinese, Politics, Resources, Strategy, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, Video, Youtube

China intensifies condemnation of Libya air strikes [Reuters]

Another article on China’s ‘condemnation’ of Libya airstrikes. About half of China’s crude imports come from the region. Pursuing its commercial and energy interests in the region means balancing friendships with Middle East countries whilst handling the spectre of western demands.

“China’s influence in the Middle East has grown steadily, reflecting its economic growth, and that will oblige China to speak out more about regional affairs…” Guo Xian’gang, vice president of the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing.

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China intensifies condemnation of Libya air strikes
By Chris Buckley
Source – Reuters, published BEIJING | Mon Mar 21, 2011

The Middle East is an important source of oil for China. On the weekend, Saudi Arabia‘s Aramco announced its latest proposal to supply crude to a refinery in the southwest of China, where Beijing is building an oil pipeline that slices through Myanmar.

About half of China’s crude imports last year came from the Middle East and North Africa. China wants to diversify supplies, but Arab countries and Iran hold so much of global reserves that they are sure to remain major suppliers.

“China’s influence in the Middle East has grown steadily, reflecting its economic growth, and that will oblige China to speak out more about regional affairs,” said Guo Xian’gang, vice president of the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing.

On Saturday, Libya‘s top oil official said Tripoli was considering offering oil block contracts directly to China, India and other nations it sees as friends in its month-long conflict with rebels.

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Charm Offensive, Domestic Growth, Economics, Influence, International Relations, Jasmine Revolution, Libya, military, Politics, Public Diplomacy, Resources, Reuters, Strategy

[Libya] China distances itself from military strikes [The Age]

Like Russia, China opposes military action in Libya within the 15-member United Nations Security Council. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu on China’s official stance – it opposes the use of force in international relations.

问：多国部队已开始对利比亚实施军事打击，中方对此有何评论？

答：中方注意到利比亚局势的最新发展，对向利进行军事打击表示遗憾。中方一贯不赞成在国际关系中使用武力，主张遵循《联合国宪章》的宗旨与原则以及相关国际法准则，尊重利主权、独立、统一和领土完整。我们希望利局势尽快恢复稳定，避免武装冲突升级造成更多平民伤亡。

Source – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, March 20, 2011

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China distances itself from military strikes
AFP
Source – The Age, published March 20, 2011

China has expressed regret over the multinational air strikes in Libya, saying in a foreign ministry statement that it opposed the use of force in international relations.

“China has noted the latest developments in Libya and expresses regret over the military attacks on Libya,” the statement said.

Russia also issued a similarly worded statement in which it called for a ceasefire as soon as possible.

Filed under: AFP, Beijing Consensus, Influence, International Relations, Jasmine Revolution, Libya, Public Diplomacy, Strategy, The Age, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities