China's Newest Arms Shipment
The latest chapter in Chinese arms shipments to regimes committing mass atrocities is unfolding off the coast of southern Africa, only this time the weapons might not actually reach their intended destination.
On Friday it was revealed that a Chinese vessel, the An Yue Jiang, loaded with weapons and ammunition that were bound for Zimbabwe was attempting to dock at the Port of Durbin in South Africa. There is good reason to believe the weapons and munitions would be turned against civilians as part of the Zimbabwean government’s attempt to assert its power after refusing to release the results from the presidential election three weeks ago. Already there are reports of increased government-sponsored violence against the opposition party and rumors that the violence could soon become widespread.
In keeping with its policy of support for the government of Zimbabwe, South Africa initially said it would allow the weapons to pass through. However, dockworkers at the Port of Durban refused to unload the shipment. The Anglican archbishop of the province requested that Durbin's High Court block the arms from being transported across South Africa saying they would be used against civilians in Zimbabwe. The Court agreed and the vessel was forced to leave South African waters. A request by the vessel to dock in Mozambique was also rejected.
The Associated Press disclosed that the United States is involved in trying to prevent the arms and munitions from finding a port in southern Africa. US intelligence is tracking the vessel that holds the Chinese weapons and the State Department has launched a diplomatic offensive, warning countries in southern Africa that accepting the vessel for docking could damage relations with the US. The State Department’s top official on Africa, Jendayi Frazer, is reportedly planning a trip to southern Africa next week to ensure the vessel does not find a port in the region to offload the weapons.
Efforts to prevent the Chinese weapons from reaching Zimbabwe are encouraging. Until now, China has shipped weapons to regimes committing mass atrocities—such as Sudan, Burma, and Zimbabwe—with little or no public protest from other governments. Perhaps the quick reaction to the Chinese weapons bound for Zimbabwe is signaling a much-needed change.
Last month the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced a report by Human Rights First that revealed China has provided some 90 percent of small arms to Sudan since 2004. The foreign minister said China’s weapons sales are “always highly prudent”. However, there is nothing “prudent” about shipping weapons to Khartoum when China knows those weapons are being used to kill, maim, rape and displace civilians in Darfur. There is also nothing “prudent” about shipping arms to the government of Zimbabwe, which has forcibly displaced hundreds of thousands of people and is now carrying out new violence against its political opponents.
It is past time for China to act responsibly when it comes to where it ships weapons. China’s image leading up to the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing has already been deeply damaged by its arms transfers to the government of Sudan. Attempting to ship weapons to Zimbabwe only further undermines China’s efforts to be perceived as a “peaceful” and “harmonious” rising world power.
On Friday it was revealed that a Chinese vessel, the An Yue Jiang, loaded with weapons and ammunition that were bound for Zimbabwe was attempting to dock at the Port of Durbin in South Africa. There is good reason to believe the weapons and munitions would be turned against civilians as part of the Zimbabwean government’s attempt to assert its power after refusing to release the results from the presidential election three weeks ago. Already there are reports of increased government-sponsored violence against the opposition party and rumors that the violence could soon become widespread.
In keeping with its policy of support for the government of Zimbabwe, South Africa initially said it would allow the weapons to pass through. However, dockworkers at the Port of Durban refused to unload the shipment. The Anglican archbishop of the province requested that Durbin's High Court block the arms from being transported across South Africa saying they would be used against civilians in Zimbabwe. The Court agreed and the vessel was forced to leave South African waters. A request by the vessel to dock in Mozambique was also rejected.
The Associated Press disclosed that the United States is involved in trying to prevent the arms and munitions from finding a port in southern Africa. US intelligence is tracking the vessel that holds the Chinese weapons and the State Department has launched a diplomatic offensive, warning countries in southern Africa that accepting the vessel for docking could damage relations with the US. The State Department’s top official on Africa, Jendayi Frazer, is reportedly planning a trip to southern Africa next week to ensure the vessel does not find a port in the region to offload the weapons.
Efforts to prevent the Chinese weapons from reaching Zimbabwe are encouraging. Until now, China has shipped weapons to regimes committing mass atrocities—such as Sudan, Burma, and Zimbabwe—with little or no public protest from other governments. Perhaps the quick reaction to the Chinese weapons bound for Zimbabwe is signaling a much-needed change.
Last month the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced a report by Human Rights First that revealed China has provided some 90 percent of small arms to Sudan since 2004. The foreign minister said China’s weapons sales are “always highly prudent”. However, there is nothing “prudent” about shipping weapons to Khartoum when China knows those weapons are being used to kill, maim, rape and displace civilians in Darfur. There is also nothing “prudent” about shipping arms to the government of Zimbabwe, which has forcibly displaced hundreds of thousands of people and is now carrying out new violence against its political opponents.
It is past time for China to act responsibly when it comes to where it ships weapons. China’s image leading up to the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing has already been deeply damaged by its arms transfers to the government of Sudan. Attempting to ship weapons to Zimbabwe only further undermines China’s efforts to be perceived as a “peaceful” and “harmonious” rising world power.
posted by Eric Sears at
7:56 PM
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