The Darfur and China’s African Policy
Dr Edgar Agubamah

Abstract
The ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan and China’s growing economic engagement in that country, particularly in the energy field, has put China’s Africa policy in the spotlight. Since China and Sudan have had a long tradition of friendship and close political and economic ties, there has been an unreasonable expectation from the international community that China alone can influence the position of the Sudanese government on this sensitive matter. Based on this, this paper using the innovative theory of Diplomacy argues that, as far as the Chinese government is concerned, the principle of ‘non-interference’ should not be interpreted as unwillingness on the part of China to take on the responsibility to protect. Given the complexity of the Darfur issue and the volatile north-south relations in Sudan, the ‘engagement approach’ endorsed and pushed by China is more constructive than the punitive ‘sanction initiative’ being pushed by the West for bringing about stability and peace in Sudan. Furthermore, this work is departmentalized into:- introduction, theoretical framework, historical background of Darfur, Darfur and its links with China, China-Sudan economic links, China’s constructive engagement approach, and Conclusion.

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