Countdown to Genocide

[Odin]

Originally posted by Tattila the Hun
What interest does China have in Sudan?

Oil.

[dannubis]

and iron ore deposits

the chinese are really going for africa to feed their economy with raw materials

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by Flubber


Well that leave two choices on the troops front now doesn't it. You either send them anyway (invade really) or you don't.

Since going in may put you in a direct shooting conflict with Sudanese regular forces and not going in probably leads to massive deaths, I am wondering about other options.

that's the problem, at the moment the government says it will not accept a UN force. so if a force goes in it may well face armed opposition from government, or government backed forces. this of course might be simply a delaying or bargaining tactic by the sudanese, but frankly who is going to commit troops to an area where they may well have to fight a 'war'?

lotm's suggestion is reasonable, and in fact what is likely to happen at the present time, the question is whether it will be effective in stopping the slaughter. also all of this will take time, at least months. putting together a package of 'carrot and stick' measures, which will get the sudan to agree to a new force for darfur, then actually raising the troops and getting them to the region, is not going to happen overnight. in addition there needs to be a peace in the area to actually enforce. there was a deal between the government and the rebels recently, but only one rebel group signed it and they have since been accused by amnesty international of joining government forces in attacking their former comrades. however any peace will most likely come after peacekeepers move in.

meanwhile of course the rebels will continue to attack government targets and the arab militias will carry on killing and displacing the people, while the government supports them with money, materiel and its air force.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Tattila the Hun
What interest does China have in Sudan?

They invested over $2 billion in its oil industry to construct almost 1,500 miles of pipeline, a 70,000 bpd refinery, a 50,000 bpd export facility, and vast improvement of pumping infrastructure. Bottom line, China directly owns 40% of Sudan's production, has contracted 24% more, and has raised its imports from there by over 1200% since 1999. It has also made massive (and politically-motivated) investments in the Sudan's electric and petrochemical industries, and made a fortune in new arms deals. I sure don't see Beijing voting to sanction its biggest cash cow just to save face.

[Arrian]

Ahh, good 'ole PRC.



-Arrian