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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China defends arms sales to Sudan | China defends arms sales to Sudan |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| China has defended its sale of weapons to Sudan, amid growing criticism of its alleged failure to help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. | China has defended its sale of weapons to Sudan, amid growing criticism of its alleged failure to help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. |
| China's special envoy on Darfur told the BBC that Beijing accounted for just 8% of Sudan's total arms imports. | China's special envoy on Darfur told the BBC that Beijing accounted for just 8% of Sudan's total arms imports. |
| Liu Guijin said the US, Russia and UK were the biggest arms exporters to developing countries including Sudan. | Liu Guijin said the US, Russia and UK were the biggest arms exporters to developing countries including Sudan. |
| About 200,000 have died in the five years of conflict between rebels, the army and pro-Khartoum militias. | About 200,000 have died in the five years of conflict between rebels, the army and pro-Khartoum militias. |
| In an exclusive interview with the BBC's China editor Shirong Chen, Mr Liu said Chinese weapons were not fuelling the conflict. | |
| "Sudan is the third largest conventional arms producer in Africa next only to South Africa and Egypt. | "Sudan is the third largest conventional arms producer in Africa next only to South Africa and Egypt. |
| And there are seven countries selling arms to Sudan. So even if China stopped its sale, it still won't solve the problem of arms in Sudan," he said. | And there are seven countries selling arms to Sudan. So even if China stopped its sale, it still won't solve the problem of arms in Sudan," he said. |
| Territorial integrity | Territorial integrity |
| Mr Liu, who is currently in the UK, is expected to travel to Sudan as part of an apparent diplomatic push to counter international criticism over Darfur. | Mr Liu, who is currently in the UK, is expected to travel to Sudan as part of an apparent diplomatic push to counter international criticism over Darfur. |
| He told the BBC that he would advise Sudan to co-operate on the deployment of a UN-African Union force. | He told the BBC that he would advise Sudan to co-operate on the deployment of a UN-African Union force. |
| The UN peacekeeping mission to Darfur, Unamid, began deploying in January but the force still lacks most of the 26,000 personnel planned for the mission. | The UN peacekeeping mission to Darfur, Unamid, began deploying in January but the force still lacks most of the 26,000 personnel planned for the mission. |
| China has strong trade and military links with Sudan, which is accused of backing militias that have raped and murdered in Darfur. | China has strong trade and military links with Sudan, which is accused of backing militias that have raped and murdered in Darfur. |
| Critics say Beijing should use these links to pressure Khartoum on this issue. China says it is already doing all it can. | Critics say Beijing should use these links to pressure Khartoum on this issue. China says it is already doing all it can. |
| Mr said that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China had been asked to help find a long-term solution to the Darfur issue, but that it had done so with respect for Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. | Mr said that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China had been asked to help find a long-term solution to the Darfur issue, but that it had done so with respect for Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. |
| It was during China's tenure of presidency at the council that a controversial precondition was passed that Sudan must give its approval to the deployment of the Unamid force. | It was during China's tenure of presidency at the council that a controversial precondition was passed that Sudan must give its approval to the deployment of the Unamid force. |