“An analysis of the discrepancy of Chinese non-intervention policy towards Sudan”, The 3rd International Forum for Contemporary Chinese Studies – China’s Development in the Post-Crisis Period, 17-19 Sep 2010, Xian, China
Abstract:
The norm of non-interference has long been an important principle of Chinese foreign policy since the 1950s as it is part of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. While many scholars notice that China is integrating with the current international order, the Chinese foreign policy seems to be more constructive in dealing with international crisis such as those humanitarian missions carried out by the United Nations. Paradoxically, in the meantime, China holds firmly on its non-intervention policy and has prevented any international intervention which targets Myanmar, North Korea and Sudan’s Darfur.
By studying the case of Sudan, this paper finds that China has indeed intervened in the internal affairs of Sudan, though the means and level of the Chinese interventions are different from the traditional western economic sanctions and military interference. The discrepancy of Chinese non-intervention policy – the gap between its principle and practice suggests that there is a clash of interest between its normative principle and other pragmatic national interests. While China enjoys a rapid growth of overall national capability, its unformed foreign policy probably undermines China’s great power status.
This paper first evaluates the Chinese leverage towards Sudan in economic and political fields. Second, this paper argues that China has mixed interests in dealing with Sudan. On the one hand, China needs to prevent international intervention in Sudan for its normative and traditional principle of non-interference as well as its energy interests in Sudan. On the other hand, China has to intervene in the internal affairs of Sudan – the Darfur issue for the tremendous international pressure right before the opening of 2008 Beijing Olympic in order to preserve China’s international image as a responsible power. Third, this paper lists out some empirical cases that China has attempted to shape or change the situation in Sudan’s Darfur. Lastly, this paper discusses the implications of the discrepant Chinese non-intervention policy in the context of China-Africa relations.
