Abstract

Sino-African relations have expanded both to areas that meet China’s economic needs, such as the oil industry, and to those that do not meet their economic needs, such as support for countries that do not have necessary natural resources. In the specific case of Sudan, China has been heavily involved in the oil industry since 1995 and continues today as China’s economy grows. Their presence in Sudan coincided with the Darfur crisis, where the United Nations peacekeeping mission had to intervene. At first, China disagreed with this measure and tried to promote leaving this task in the hands of the African Union.  At the same time, they continued to trade arms with Sudan and thereby fueled the conflict. In this case, there is an example of China’s non-intervention strategy most scholars consider a myth. It is unclear, given their actions in Sudan, whether China’s political actions in Africa follow their economic motives, or if it is their economic motives that drive their policies in Africa. Given the economic and political situation of Sudan and South Sudan it is also unclear whether Chinese influence in the area truly benefits Africans. China’s decisions in problematic political situations such as Darfur and continuing arms trade with Sudan during that time show their differing ideology for diplomatic relations with other countries. In this way, China has created a new model of global governance that could soon overtake the traditional Western models for international relations.